Ethics is1) a study and development of standards of "right" and "wrong"

2) a rational examination of people's moral values

3) a branch of philosophy

4) a continuous effort to make sure our moral values are up to solidly-based standards

1.

Explanation:

Ethics can be defined as a systematic study of morals or what is right or wrong. The word ethic is derived from the Greek word 'ethos' which means habit or character.

It is through ethics, that humans get the prescriptions of morality and what they need to do for the benefit of their society, and what is right and fair.

Ethics refrains a person from committing crimes or shows a difference between right and wrong acts; even if wrong acts are socially accepted. Such as honor killing may be accepted in society, but ethically it is a crime.