What are the moral values and principles that guide an individual's behavior known as?

• A. Ethics
• B. Integrity
• C. Values
• D. Morals

Answer: (A)

The term that refers to the moral values and principles that guide an individual’s behavior is ethics. Ethics encompasses the systematized set of guidelines and principles that dictate what is considered right and wrong in different situations. It is a framework that helps individuals and organizations to make decisions that align with their moral beliefs and societal norms.

Ethics often plays a crucial role in professional environments, as it helps in navigating complex situations where moral dilemmas may arise. For example, whether it's a business pursuing profits ethically or a professional facing conflicts of interest, ethics provides a guide on how to proceed in a responsible manner. This concept not only applies to individual behavior but also extends to organizations and their conduct within society.

While integrity, values, and morals are related concepts, they each serve different roles. Integrity refers to the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, values signify what a person or organization holds important, and morals relate specifically to differentiating between right and wrong. Ethics ties these elements together by structuring them into a coherent system that governs behavior.