Ethical tradition facts for kids

An ethical tradition is like a set of unwritten rules that a group of people follow. These rules help them decide what is right and wrong. People usually follow these traditions because their families and communities have believed in them for a very long time.

Think of it like a shared understanding within a group. Most people in that group agree on these ideas and try to live by them. However, unlike official laws, ethical traditions are usually not written down. Also, there isn't a police force to make sure everyone follows them. Instead, people follow them because they believe it's the right thing to do, or because it's what their community expects.

Understanding Ethics and Traditions

The study of philosophy has a special branch called ethics. Ethics is different from an ethical tradition. While an ethical tradition is about following what others believe, ethics is about asking deep questions. It explores why certain actions are considered right or wrong.

Why Do People Follow Traditions?

Some philosophers who study ethics are very interested in ethical traditions. They want to understand why people choose to follow these unwritten rules. They also look for ethical traditions that are similar across different groups of people around the world. This part of ethics is sometimes called the science of morals. It tries to find common ideas about right and wrong that many cultures share.

Images for kids

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  Ahimsa – non-violence in action, words and thoughts – is considered the highest ethical value and virtue in Hinduism. Above: non-violence sculpture by Carl Reutersward in Malmo, Sweden.

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  Nishidhi stone, depicting the vow of sallekhana, 14th century, Karnataka