ethical motive
- noun
- /ˈɛθɪkəl ˈmoʊtɪv/
:
motivo ético
- Many people have strong ethical motives for volunteering their time to help others.
Examples
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Some argue that charity should have an ethical motive rather than a desire for recognition.
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The lawyer’s ethical motive was clear in the way he defended his client.
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Her decision to speak out against injustice was driven primarily by an ethical motive.
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Her decision was driven by an ethical motive.
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Many people have strong ethical motives for volunteering.
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Her decision to speak out against injustice was driven primarily by an ethical motive.
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Some argue that charity should stem from an ethical motive rather than from a desire for recognition.
Synonyms
3
6.3
A strong influence from a sense of right and wrong that makes people act
How Ethical
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a reason for acting based on moral principles' is directly derivable from combining 'ethical' (conforming to moral principles) with 'motive' (a reason for action). This adjective+noun compositional pattern is standard and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
Ethical motive joins ethical and motive, where ethical is about what is 'right' or 'wrong' and motive is the 'reason' someone acts. Imagine a person who helps a neighbor at night just because they think it is the right thing, not for thanks. So, an ethical motive means a 'reason' for acting that comes from ideas of right and wrong.