How many decisions do you think you make each day?
If you ask the internet
the answer will range from 70 to 35,000.
If you ask us
it’s the wrong question to be asking at all.
That’s because we’re interested in ethics.
We are not concerned about the quantity of your decisions
we care about their quality.
You might want to think of ethics as a tool
that helps us create the difference
between a good decision
and a bad one.
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that asks the practical question
What should we do?
This leads to the study of things like
values, principles, beliefs and norms.
These are the things that shape our choices.
Ethics asks us:
It tries to help us define the conditions of a good choice
and then figure out which of our available options is the best one.
Let’s say a close friend, Lee confides in you
that they’re struggling with depression.
They’re feeling isolated and alone
but when they’re invited to go out
they find it impossible to do.
Lee insists they don’t want anyone else to know.
They’re trusting this information to you alone.
A few days later
another friend comes to you, frustrated about Lee.
Lee has flaked on plans at the last minute yet again
and your friend has had enough.
They’ve decided they just won’t bother inviting Lee out anymore.
You’re torn...
If Lee stops being invited to things,
the isolation could make them feel even worse.
Sharing information about their depression
might help Lee be treated with more empathy and compassion
But it would be a breach of trust.
And if Lee found out
especially in a vulnerable state
who knows what might happen.
Keep the secret,
and allow Lee to be socially isolated?
Or break Lee’s trust
but do it for their benefit?
Answering this question means getting clear on what matters:
Our values and principles.
Our Values are the things we hold to be good
and therefore care about most deeply.
Things like justice, knowledge, family and equality
In this case, we’re likely to value both trustworthiness and compassion
which pull us in different directions.
So it looks like an appeal to values alone won’t let us solve this dilemma...
We don’t just need to know what’s good
we need to know what’s right.
This is where principles come in
they help us draw a line in the sand
they determine the acceptable ways of getting what we value.
So what’s our guiding principle with regard to Lee?
Some people might adopt a principle like
meaning you keep Lee’s confidence, no matter the risks
Others might be inclined toward a principle like
and decide that it’s in Lee’s best interests that people know about the depression
Of course, there are still ambiguities
which is part of what makes ethical decision-making so complicated
So, how do we select which values and principles to adopt?
And how do we make choices when we face a conflict of values or principles?
good vs good
right vs right
What helps to orient our judgement is a connection to Purpose
What’s our guiding north star?
What’s our reason for being?
Think about Lee again
Now, think about the purpose of friendship...
What are friends for?
Think about why Lee decided to tell you in confidence
Your purpose as Lee’s friend is to share their life with them
The highs and the lows
But it’s their life and it’s their decision on who they share it with.
Lee chose to share this information with you alone
given this, even if you prefer to act in people’s best interests
thinking about purpose and thinking about Lee’s purpose
might encourage you to take a different path.
Every time we make a choice
we change the world.
What kind of world do you want to live in?
Whether you make 35,000 choices in a day
or just one
what’s important is that you make choices that are good and right.
Choices you can justify
ones you can be proud of
That’s what makes the choices actively yours.