01
ethisch
ethical
Relating to ethics or morality; in accordance with moral principles.
example
Die Klonierung von Menschen wirft viele ethische Fragen auf.
The cloning of humans raises many ethical questions.
ethisch
ethical
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'ethisch' (ethical) is derived directly from the noun 'die Ethik' (ethics). The ending '-isch' is a typical ending used to form adjectives from nouns.
EXAMPLE
Die Diskussion über künstliche Intelligenz hat auch eine ethische Dimension.
The discussion about artificial intelligence also has an ethical dimension.
Typical collocations
'Ethisch' (ethical) is often used in combination with nouns that describe an evaluation or a problem. Common combinations are 'ethische Fragen' (ethical questions), 'ethische Bedenken' (ethical concerns), 'ethische Grundsätze' (ethical principles), or 'ein ethisches Dilemma' (an ethical dilemma).
EXAMPLE
Der Einsatz von Tierversuchen wirft ernste ethische Bedenken auf.
The use of animal testing raises serious ethical concerns.
Usage context
This adjective is found mainly in formal, academic, or journalistic texts. It is used to discuss complex topics in areas such as medicine, law, technology, and philosophy.
EXAMPLE
Der Vorstand prüft, ob die Entscheidung ethisch vertretbar ist.
The board is examining whether the decision is ethically justifiable.
Compare with
ethisch vs rechtlich
legal
'rechtlich' and 'ethisch' both describe whether something is right according to certain rules. The difference lies in the type of rules. 'rechtlich' refers to laws: is something allowed, forbidden, or required? 'ethisch' refers to morality: is something fair, responsible, or morally right? Learners may confuse the words because something can be legally allowed but still ethically problematic. Conversely, something may be ethically well-intentioned but not legally allowed.
ethisch
Emma findet es ethisch schwierig, Tiere nur für Werbung zu benutzen.
Emma finds it ethically difficult to use animals only for advertising.
rechtlich
Bei der Arbeit musst du rechtlich klären, ob du die Fotos verwenden darfst.
At work, you need to clarify legally whether you are allowed to use the photos.
In real life
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