Moral Philosophy is a concept and a field of study that contemplates what is right and wrong, exploring the nature of morality and how individuals should live their lives in relation to others. It is also known as Ethics or Nitisastra.
The concept has dual origins: the Western tradition began in the fourth and fifth century Greece, with philosophers like Plato and Aristotle questioning moral traditions. In the Indian tradition, the theory of karma was articulated early in Upaniṣadic times, generally placed from 700 BCE onwards, establishing a causal relation between acts and their results. The problem it addresses is providing a reasoned, coherent account of what makes behavior right or wrong.
Moral Philosophy works through three main branches: Meta-ethics investigates big-picture questions like "What is morality?". Normative ethics provides a framework for deciding what we ought to do, using models like Deontology (focusing on duty, such as Kant's idea), Utilitarianism (focusing on maximizing good consequences), and Virtue Ethics (focusing on the moral character of the agent). Applied ethics addresses specific, practical moral issues, such as capital punishment.
This field connects deeply to Political Philosophy and Jurisprudence. In the Indian context, the core mechanism is governed by karma and Dharma, which is the term for morality and ethics, encompassing all the duties one ought to fulfill. Dharma is understood as the path to Moksha (liberation). The principles are sourced from texts like the Vedas and Smritis (Dharmaśāstras), and the duties of rulers are discussed in the Arthashastra literature. The fundamental structure of Moral Philosophy, including its three branches and core frameworks, has remained constant, though the application of the term 'moral' was taken up by scientists for testing in the mid-20th century.