Ethics in its simplest form may constitute the right conduct required to lead a good life.

Social ethics encompass a

code of conduct created by a society in order to ensure a smooth functioning of the said society. Social ethicsmay
differ with different societies and cultures and hence what may be considered right and good for one may be
perceived differently by another. However certain behaviors or moral principles have universal appeal and people are
expected to posses them while interacting with fellow human beings. For example lying may be considered a vice not
only on an individual basis but can be applied to people of different societies in their interaction with others at various
levels.

What is the Social Ethic of Sharing?

Basically societies work on the principle of give and take. In other words sharing is inherent to human life. By sharing
something with a person who is in dire need of it you are starting a chain of good deeds which is bound to come back
to you in some form or the other. Sharing can imply not only physical and material things but can broadly involve
sharing of emotions and moral support. Thus the social ethic of sharing is crucial to meaningful interaction in
society.

What are the factors that influence Social Ethics?

What is considered right or wrong by a society seems to be influenced by a number of factors and social ethics such
as religious beliefs, the economic conditions, social and cultural factors and so on. Besides this, political and
legislative bodies may influence what a society holds to be socially ethical. For example issues such as abortion,
euthanasia, death penalty and animal cruelty have long been topics of debate in various societies. Further the
advance in science medicine and technology has given rise to a number of issues which may be a threat to the age-
old social ethics. For example, gene manipulation , artificial insemination, cloning etc have given rise to ethical
questions which can disturb the equilibrium of a society.

What are the social ethics of living in a community?

Help and care are the foundation of any community. It is important to identify the need and decide how you can help
the person. For example the poor in a community can be helped in a number of ways. It could be in the form of
personal help or seeking help for them through some voluntary organization. Social ethics is all about understanding
the obligations one has towards others in a community. Understandably social ethics is a complex topic and cannot
be defined objectively. But generally any behavior that is largely considered right or good by large groups tend to be
accepted by the society as a whole over a period of time.

How can one be Socially Accountable?

An individual is accountable not only to his loved ones in his family but in a large sense toward al those with whom he
interacts in society. They may include his friends, supervisors, co-workers among others. The idea is to generate
mutual interests and trust avoiding deception of any kind. Public trust can be earned by following thesocial ethics of
help, responsibility, honesty, fairness and freedom. Consequently it would be considered negative social ethics when
one indulges in arrogance, dishonesty, irresponsibility and has conflicting interests.