What term refers to the study of what it means to live a moral life?

The term that refers to the study of what it means to live a moral life is ethics. Ethics involves the systematic examination and analysis of principles that govern what is considered right and wrong behavior. It looks at moral values, standards, and the justifications for them, providing a framework to evaluate actions and decisions. In the context of various professional fields, including nursing, ethics plays a crucial role in guiding practitioners through complex moral dilemmas they may face in practice.

While law reflects a formal system of rules and regulations that societies implement to maintain order and justice, it does not encompass the broader philosophical study of moral life. Morality itself refers to the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior, but does not signify the systematic study or analysis of these principles. Confidentiality, on the other hand, refers specifically to the ethical duty to protect private information about individuals and is one aspect of ethical practice, rather than the comprehensive study of morality.