Distinguish between “Codes of ethics” and “Code of conduct” with suitable examples. (UPSC 2018, 10 Marks, )

EN ह

Understanding Codes of Ethics vs. Codes of Conduct

Aspect	Code of Ethics	Code of Conduct
Definition	Guidelines that outline moral principles	Rules that govern behavior within an organization
Purpose	Sets out principles and values	Provides guidelines for behavior
Focus	Ethical standards and moral principles	Rules and regulations for specific conduct
Scope	Broad and overarching	Specific to a particular organization
Content	General statements and ideals	Specific rules and expectations
Flexibility	Less prescriptive and more aspirational	More detailed and prescriptive
Stakeholders	Internal and external stakeholders	Internal stakeholders (employees, members)
Enforcement	Self-regulated and voluntary	May have formal enforcement mechanisms
Application	Provides guidance in complex situations	Applies to day-to-day activities
Longevity	Less frequent revisions	May be updated more frequently
Legal implications	May have legal implications	May address legal requirements
Examples	AMA Code of Medical Ethics, IEEE Code of Ethics, AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.	Google's Code of Conduct, IBM Business Conduct, United Nations Code of Conduct for Peacekeepers
Thinkers  Views	Immanuel Kant emphasized the importance of moral duty and universal principles in ethics.	John Locke advocated for a social contract theory. He argued that individuals should follow agreed-upon rules and laws.