Years ago, in one of my group psychosocial sessions I had decided the group needed an introduction to ethical decision making, so I asked who could give me a definition of ethics.  No one offered an answer. I asked again.  I got a couple of answers that were not even remotely connected.  This was not good, I had assumed (wrongly) I would have some foundation on which to begin a session.

With that in mind, I have decided to mention ethics to my little group of readers.

Ethics is defined as: 1) study of morality’s effect on conduct: the study of moral standards and how they affect conduct  2) a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group.

Ethics is not a list of rules for what to do our not to do.  It appears that most people like lists of rules, clear bright lines saying “don’t do this” or “do this” to be morally sound.  It absolves them of making difficult moral choices. Leaders also like rules because it allows them micromanagement powers over their followers.  Rules are the hallmark of the world’s mono-theistic religions, even when their founders apparently opposed such rules. Jesus was very clear in his denunciation of the rule makers in favor of an ethics based on “love thy neighbor as thyself”; however, the first thing his cadre of disciples did once he was gone, was to start imposing a list of rules. Continue reading “Of Ethics” →