Description: Ethics refers to the moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conduct of an activity. It is a field of study that seeks to understand what is right or wrong, just or unjust, and how these concepts apply in various situations. Ethics is not limited to individual morality but also encompasses norms and values that guide behavior in social, professional, and technological contexts. Today, ethics has become particularly relevant in areas such as privacy and data protection, artificial intelligence (AI), and the digital environment, where decisions can significantly impact people’s lives. Ethics is also related to philosophy, as many ethical theories have developed throughout the history of human thought, from Greek philosophers to contemporary debates about technology and society. In this sense, ethics becomes an essential framework for evaluating the implications of our actions and decisions in an increasingly interconnected and digitized world.
History: Ethics has its roots in ancient philosophy, with thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laying the foundations of ethical thought. Throughout history, various ethical currents have emerged, such as the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, and the deontological ethics of Immanuel Kant. In the 20th century, ethics has expanded to include debates on bioethics, business ethics, and more recently, ethics in technology, reflecting the evolution of society and its challenges.
Uses: Ethics is applied in multiple contexts, including medicine, where decisions about treatments and informed consent are evaluated; in business, where fair and responsible practices are considered; and in technology, where the implications of AI, data privacy, and the use of algorithms are analyzed. Ethics also guides academic research and the formulation of public policies.
Examples: An example of ethics in technology is the debate over the use of algorithms in decision-making, such as in the case of selecting candidates for jobs, where it is questioned whether these algorithms perpetuate biases. Another example is the discussion about data privacy on social media, where the responsibility of companies in protecting users’ personal information is evaluated.
