but other people may just decide not to give a hoot, using some other definition of ethics
If what they have can’t do what ethics is supposed to do, why call it ethics?
What is ethics supposed to do?
Reconcile one’s preferences with those of others.
That’s one specific goal that you ascribe to your ethics-subroutine, the definition entails no such ready answer.
Ethics:
“Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior”
“The moral correctness of specified conduct”
Moral:
“of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior”
What about Ferengi ethics?
I don’t know what you mean. Your dictionary definitions are typically useless for philosophical purposes.
ETA
Well...what?
You are saying “the (true, objective, actual) purpose of ethics is to reconcile one’s preferences with those of others”.
Where do you take that from, and what makes it right?
I got it from thinking and reading. It might not be right. It’s a philosophical claim. Feel free to counterargue.
If what they have can’t do what ethics is supposed to do, why call it ethics?
What is ethics supposed to do?
Reconcile one’s preferences with those of others.
That’s one specific goal that you ascribe to your ethics-subroutine, the definition entails no such ready answer.
Ethics:
“Moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior”
“The moral correctness of specified conduct”
Moral:
“of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior”
What about Ferengi ethics?
I don’t know what you mean. Your dictionary definitions are typically useless for philosophical purposes.
ETA
Well...what?
You are saying “the (true, objective, actual) purpose of ethics is to reconcile one’s preferences with those of others”.
Where do you take that from, and what makes it right?
I got it from thinking and reading. It might not be right. It’s a philosophical claim. Feel free to counterargue.