Ethical behavior is an illusion

We tend to categorize some behaviors or thoughts as moral or immoral. Principles & ethics are deeply rooted into immorality.

The mechanism by which we come to develop what we consider as principles or ethical behavior is the following:

The brain creates a reward mechanism pro behaviors categorized by society / culture as moral, so that it automatically ends up developing principles. 

Principles are a pragmatic way of self-defense against the possibility of going beyond cultural norms and consequently being criticized by those around us.