What are ethics?

Ethics is the study of right and wrong, good and evil; morality and immorality, what we ought and ought not to do.

Ethical questions confront us all day, every day. How should I live? Should I buy this coffee or give my money to the beggar on the corner? Should I promote the welfare state, the military, corporate bailouts, or public education? How should I conduct my sex life? When should I lie or not lie? Am I obligated to be rational or to only believe things for which I have evidence? Should I support capital punishment or gay marriage or gun control? Is abortion morally permissible? Is it ever okay to insult people? Should I care about the suffering of animals? Do higher apes have rights? Do fish? Should marijuana be legalized? Is democracy just? How can I make the world a better place?