Ethics is the discipline of deciding what ought to be done by considering purpose, affected stakeholders, foreseeable consequences, and the boundaries that should not be crossed.
Ethics is more than complying with laws, policies, or professional standards. An action may be legal, profitable, or efficient and still cause foreseeable harm. Ethical judgement asks who may benefit, who may bear the cost, what consequences may follow, and what should remain unacceptable even under pressure.
Within governance, ethics provides the boundaries within which purpose is pursued and decisions are made. It connects organisational intention with action, accountability, and consequence.
Ethics cannot be delegated entirely to policies, committees, or AI. People remain responsible for exercising informed judgement and answering for the consequences of their decisions.