Law vs. Ethics ( In Training) Business Law Assignments - Essay Example

Key words: Laws, Ethics, society, Business Law vs. Ethics Introduction There exists a close relationship between law and ethics besides the two terms confusing numerous people (Hendrick and Wigens 113). Laws and ethics regardless of their mode of the institution or enforcement, their core purpose, is to ensure people’s welfare and harmony in the society, though sometimes they do overlap in their interpretations (Hendrick and Wigens 292). This is because in some instances, what people perceive to be legal is also ethical whereas in other occasions, they do not overlap because what is illegal may be ethical and vice versa.

This diversity is also evident especially when according to one person or group, a certain behavior may be unethical or unlawful, but to the other it is acceptable. Ethics comprise of “divine” behaviors, which an individual ought to do to others, and expect a similar reciprocation despite many of them lacking tangible documentation. Conversely, laws are universal, consistent, legislated, written and accepted directives whose core purpose is to show the government’s position concerning a society’s behavior.

Despite laws and ethics being applicable in all occupations entailing human life, they do not have a common standard (Kerridge, Lowe and McPhee 84). Since, the relationship amid the two in some circumstances usually differs despite both having a similar core purpose. For illustration, in some instances what many people perceive to be illegal may be ethical or vice versa whereas in other occasions both the law and ethics overlap. This is evident in the medical field where the law compels the doctor to act as necessitated in providing the necessary assistance to the ailing person, which is also in accordance to ethics (Kerridge, Lowe and McPhee 594).

However, it is not a law for the doctor when he or she is unable to handle a certain patient’s condition to refer him or her to a more experienced specialist (Kerridge, Lowe and McPhee 151). This is an ethical responsibility where the doctor acts compassionately to help the patient. The doctor could wait for the hospital’s management to dictate the patient’s next move according to the patient’s progress records. Hence, implying laws are ethically neutral. This is because there is no room where law enforcement process can compel the specialist to act at his or her level best given that ethics emanate from a person’s moral values (Kerridge, Lowe and McPhee 146).

In addition, laws compared to the ethics are stricter and entail full conformity where one fails to comply with them. Therefore, one is liable to face the already set penalties (Kerridge, Lowe and McPhee 101). This is due to the laws’ universal nature where despite being against certain individuals’ ideals or ethics, they coerce them to comply, hence ensuring harmony in the society. Mainly, this is by people compromising what they perceive to be right and best for humanity, which renders the law’s purpose to be unethical.

For example, it is irrefutable that killing of a human being is wrong and unethical, but numerous global states’ laws usually advocate the termination of a convict’s life. Similarly, in the Middle East, Islamic states have refuted the use of social sites like Facebook despite being aware of its economic benefits. For instance, this is via boosting the states’ economies and those of people where they can do business online besides socializing, but due to the state’s laws, they cannot violate (Halbert and Ingulli 367).

Conclusion Close relationship between law and ethics has prompted numerous people confusing these terms despite utilized intensively in the management science (Hendrick and Wigens 113). The latter refers to an individual’s behavior or moral values where their compliance does not entail enforcement. Conversely, laws encompass codifications of the ethics with the intention of regulating society via ensuring harmony and arbitration of cases suppose there are any violations. The confusion mainly emanates from the overlapping of the two terms especially during their interpretation and execution.

For instance, actions, which people deem to be ethical, may end up being illegal where in other occasions both are acceptable and vice versa.Works CitedHalbert, Terry and Ingulli, Elaine. Law and Ethics in the Business Environment. Mason OH:South WesternEducational Publishers, 2011. Print.Hendrick, Judith and Wigens, Lynne. Law and Ethics. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Publishers Ltd, 2004. Print.Kerridge, Ian., Lowe, Michael and McPhee, John. Ethics and Law for the Health Professions. Annandale, N.S.W: Federation Press, 2005. Print.