Which of the following terms describes standards of what is ethical or unethical in society?

The term that best describes standards of what is ethical or unethical in society is values. Values are the deeply held beliefs that guide people's behavior and judgments about what is important in life. They shape an individual's understanding of right and wrong and play a critical role in forming societal norms, which are the accepted standards of behavior within a community.

Values influence how individuals interact with one another and can vary widely across different cultures and societies, leading to a diverse array of ethical perspectives. For example, what one culture may consider ethical behavior may be viewed differently by another culture based on their respective values.

While norms refer to the specific rules and expectations for behaviors based on values, they do not encompass the deeper belief systems themselves. Cultural symbols convey meanings within a society but do not directly address standards of ethics. Sociological theories provide frameworks to understand social phenomena, including ethical behaviors, but they do not serve as direct definitions of ethical norms. Therefore, values is the most accurate choice for describing the overarching principles that dictate ethical standards within a society.