Difference Between Normative Ethics and Descriptive Ethics

The main difference between normative ethics and descriptive ethics is that normative ethics analyses how people ought to act whereas descriptive ethics analyses what people think is right.

Basically, normative ethics is the study of ethical action whereas descriptive ethics is the study of people’s views about moral beliefs. Descriptive ethics, as its name implies, describes the behaviour of people and what moral standards they follow. In contrast, descriptive ethics is concerned with what is morally right and wrong. The other two well-known branches of ethics are metaethics and applied ethics.

Key Terms Covered

1. What is Normative Ethics 
     – Definition, Analysis
2. What is Descriptive Ethics
     – Definition, Analysis
3. What is the Difference Between Normative Ethics and Descriptive Ethics
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Ethics, Comparative Ethics, Descriptive Ethics, Normative Ethics

What is Normative Ethics?

Normative ethics is the study of ethical action. In simple words, it analyses how people ought to act, in terms of morality. It is also concerned with the criteria of what is morally right and wrong. Moreover, the core concept of normative ethics is how to arrive at basic moral standards and how to justify basic moral standards. Teleological and deontological theories are the tools that help to determine this concept. In teleological ethics, the goodness or badness of action is determined by examining the consequences of that action, whereas, in deontological theories, the goodness or badness of action is determined by examining the action itself.

There are four major normative ethics theories as Kantianism, Utilitarianism, ethical intuitionism, and virtue ethics. Furthermore, Kantianism and intuitionism are non-teleological theories, while utilitarianism and virtue ethics are teleological theories.

What is Descriptive Ethics?

Descriptive ethics or comparative ethics is the study of people’s views about moral beliefs. In other words, it analyses ‘what do people think is right?’ Thus, the study of descriptive ethics involves describing people’s moral values and standards as well as their behaviour.

Furthermore, descriptive ethics is a type of empirical study that incorporates research from the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology, and history. Such empirical studies observe that all cultures and societies have their own moral standards that advocate or forbid certain types of actions. Descriptive ethics also analyse the differences and similarities between the moral practices of different societies, and evaluate the development of the standards behind these practices.

Difference Between Normative Ethics and Descriptive Ethics

Definition

Normative ethics is the study of ethical action whereas descriptive ethics is the study of people’s views about moral beliefs.

Basic Analysis

While normative ethics analyses how people ought to act whereas descriptive ethics analyses people’s moral values, standards and behaviour.

Basis

Moreover, normative ethics attempts to evaluate or create moral standards and prescribes how people ought to act whereas descriptive ethics simply describes how people behave and what types of moral standards they claim to follow.

Conclusion

Basically, normative ethics is the study of ethical action whereas descriptive ethics is the study of people’s views about moral beliefs. The main difference between normative ethics and descriptive ethics is that normative ethics analyses how people ought to act whereas descriptive ethics analyses what people think is right.

Reference:

1. “Comparative Ethics.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
2. “Descriptive Ethics.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Ethics en” By 老陳 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia