Where is the line between morals, ethics, and values? Or do you see them as the same?

I look at morals as more of a universal understanding of right and wrong. Ethics I perceive as following a specific set of rules by a governing body. Values I interpret as ones individual way they want to live their life.

It’s a good question which I have wondered myself, and here is a link that both expands @shadowboxer‘s answer and again proves the value (not ethics or morals) of a quick Google search.

While I appreciate the link, I was sort of hoping for personal views, not the policy of the Townsville Legal Services group.

Right. I think that’s where @shadowboxer got it (wording is exactly the same), and I was gigging him a bit. That said, the distinction among the three words expressed on the site is exactly what I’ve always thought intuitively. For me, “morals” seems larger than “ethics,” and “values” seems like a very person set of beliefs and conduct.

@Pachy. No. I actually thought it up all by myself. I’ve never heard of Townsville Legal Services group. I just was born with a brain.

@shadowboxer, my humble apology. I don’t doubt you were born with a brain and have developed it quite fully. I was really teasing more then accusing you of plagiarism.

@Pachy, Thanks Pach. It is actually a compliment if my thoughts were on the money. That doesn’t happen all the time.

Apology accepted my friend.

I see ethics is an expansion over morals of what is proper behavior. I would classify insider trading as unethical, but I would not say it is immoral. Values can be part of morals and ethics, but can include ideals that are not strictly moral or ethical. For example, I place a value on critical thinking, but this does not come under morals or ethics.

I always saw “morals” as religious, but now I view them as more or less the same as values—concepts like respect, kindness, honesty, etc.
I never understood what ethics meant until this thread. I looked it up yesterday and it seemed like the same thing as morals so I used it in place of morals for a Gen Psych assignment. I just corrected myself right now since I now understand that ethics is a collective group of morals for a society.

Morals are principals and guidelines, generally agreed upon by society and humanity, i.e., Do not commit murder. Ethics is the weighing of factors to make a decision; both actions may be contrary to morals i.e., do we bomb ISIS, which will kill people, or let them go unchecked?, but one must be chosen, or both are good, which one is better?

Values are a personal decision about the relative ranking of morals. Some would argue that following a strict religious code is paramount; others would argue that each person’s conscience is important, even if it is contrary to a particular religion’s central belief.

Morals to me are the best as they come from deep within and so have the most solid foundation and are the most human. Ethics apply reasoning to our moral instincts and lift them to a higher plane so we know how we should behave in more complex situations. If we have neither morals nor ethics and feel we are lacking something we can always say we have values.

MY morall compass is very good vs bad. My ethics tell me there are many gray areas. My values say don’t worry be happy.