Normative Ethics vs. Descriptive Ethics: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 9, 2024
Normative Ethics prescribes moral standards and behaviors, while Descriptive Ethics observes and explains moral behaviors without making judgments.
Key Differences
Normative Ethics is concerned with establishing how things should be in terms of moral behaviors, setting standards and guidelines for right and wrong actions. Descriptive Ethics, in contrast, focuses on describing how people actually behave and what moral beliefs they hold, without prescribing any ethical standards.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Normative Ethics involves the formulation of moral rules and principles that aim to guide behavior, such as the concepts of duty, rights, and good conduct. Descriptive Ethics, on the other hand, takes an empirical approach, studying and reporting on people's ethical beliefs and practices as they are found in the real world.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
While Normative Ethics attempts to determine what ethical behavior is by exploring moral theories like utilitarianism or Kantian ethics, Descriptive Ethics looks at moral diversity and examines the reasons behind differing moral practices and beliefs across cultures.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Normative Ethics debates what should be considered morally right or wrong and tries to justify these claims through rational arguments. Descriptive Ethics, conversely, merely observes and analyzes moral behaviors and attitudes without endorsing any specific ethical viewpoint.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
In essence, Normative Ethics is prescriptive, seeking to establish ideal moral norms, while Descriptive Ethics is observational, aiming to understand and explain existing moral behaviors and attitudes.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To prescribe moral standards and behaviors
To describe and explain actual moral behaviors
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Nature
Prescriptive, setting guidelines for conduct
Observational and analytical, without judgment
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Jan 09, 2024
Focus
What ought to be in terms of morality
What is, in terms of actual moral practices
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Jan 09, 2024
Methodology
Involves philosophical reasoning and argumentation
Employs empirical observation and social science methods
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Jan 09, 2024
Examples
Debating the morality of capital punishment
Studying cultural differences in moral attitudes
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
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Normative Ethics and Descriptive Ethics Definitions
Normative Ethics
It establishes standards for right and wrong behavior.
According to Normative Ethics, altruism is considered a moral good.
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Descriptive Ethics
Descriptive Ethics examines the ethical practices of different groups.
Descriptive Ethics observes how moral decisions are made in real-life scenarios.
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Dec 17, 2023
Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics is the study of ethical action, prescribing moral norms.
Normative Ethics might argue that lying is always morally wrong.
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Dec 17, 2023
Descriptive Ethics
It observes ethical behaviors without making moral judgments.
Descriptive Ethics might note the prevalence of lying without condemning it.
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Dec 17, 2023
Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics addresses questions of moral duty and values.
Normative Ethics examines the moral obligations towards the environment.
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Dec 17, 2023
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Descriptive Ethics
It describes moral behaviors and attitudes as they occur.
Descriptive Ethics studies the varying moral standards across societies.
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Dec 17, 2023
Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics seeks to determine how one ought to act morally.
Normative Ethics debates whether self-interest can be morally justified.
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Dec 17, 2023
Descriptive Ethics
Descriptive Ethics looks at the factual existence of ethical beliefs.
Descriptive Ethics investigates what people actually consider to be right or wrong.
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Dec 17, 2023
Normative Ethics
It involves the formulation of moral rules and principles.
Normative Ethics questions the ethicality of the death penalty.
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Dec 17, 2023
Descriptive Ethics
Descriptive Ethics is the study of people's beliefs about morality.
Descriptive Ethics explores why some cultures accept practices others find immoral.
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Dec 17, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is Normative Ethics based on cultural values?
While influenced by cultural values, Normative Ethics seeks universal moral principles.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
What is Normative Ethics?
Normative Ethics is the branch of ethics that establishes moral standards and guidelines.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
How does Descriptive Ethics gather data?
It uses methods like surveys, case studies, and ethnography to gather data on moral practices.
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Jan 09, 2024
What does Descriptive Ethics study?
Descriptive Ethics studies actual moral behaviors and beliefs without prescribing norms.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Can Normative Ethics change over time?
Yes, Normative Ethical standards can evolve with changes in societal values and knowledge.
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Jan 09, 2024
Do Descriptive Ethics provide ethical guidance?
No, Descriptive Ethics does not provide guidance but rather describes existing moral practices.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
How do Normative and Descriptive Ethics differ?
Normative Ethics prescribes what should be morally right, while Descriptive Ethics describes what is morally practiced.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Does Descriptive Ethics make moral judgments?
No, Descriptive Ethics avoids making judgments, focusing instead on observation and analysis.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Can Descriptive Ethics influence Normative Ethics?
Yes, observations from Descriptive Ethics can inform and challenge Normative ethical theories.
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Jan 09, 2024
Are there examples of Normative Ethics in law?
Yes, laws often reflect Normative Ethical principles about right and wrong.
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Jan 09, 2024
What role do cultural differences play in Descriptive Ethics?
Descriptive Ethics studies how moral beliefs and behaviors vary across cultures.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
How objective is Descriptive Ethics?
Descriptive Ethics aims to be objective, focusing on factual reporting of moral practices.
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Jan 09, 2024
What are some common Normative Ethical theories?
Examples include utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics.
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Jan 09, 2024
Does Descriptive Ethics consider historical changes in morality?
Yes, it can study how moral beliefs and behaviors have evolved over time.
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Jan 09, 2024
Can personal beliefs influence Normative Ethics?
Personal beliefs can influence the development of Normative ethical theories.
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Jan 09, 2024
Are Normative Ethical theories universally accepted?
No, there is often significant debate and disagreement regarding Normative ethical theories.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
How does Descriptive Ethics contribute to ethical understanding?
It provides a factual basis for understanding how and why people make moral decisions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Can one be an expert in both Normative and Descriptive Ethics?
Yes, understanding both areas can provide a more comprehensive view of ethical issues.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
Is Normative Ethics subjective?
While based on reasoning, Normative Ethics can involve subjective interpretations of moral principles.
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Jan 09, 2024
Can Normative Ethics be applied in everyday life?
Yes, Normative Ethics can guide individual and societal decisions about right and wrong.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 09, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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