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critical thinking
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Ethics
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What is Ethics?
Ethics is the branch of study dealing with what is the proper course of action for man. It answers the question,
"What do I do?" It is the study of right and wrong in human endeavors. At a more fundamental level, it is the method by which
we categorize our values and pursue them. Do we pursue our own happiness, or do we sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause?
Is that foundation of ethics based on the Bible, or on the very nature of man himself, or neither?
Why is Ethics important?
Ethics is a requirement for human life. It is our means of deciding a course of action. Without it, our actions
would be random and aimless. There would be no way to work towards a goal because there would be no way to pick between a
limitless number of goals. Even with an ethical standard, we may be unable to pursue our goals with the possibility of success.
To the degree which a rational ethical standard is taken, we are able to correctly organize our goals and actions to accomplish
our most important values. Any flaw in our ethics will reduce our ability to be successful in our endeavors.
What are the key elements of a proper Ethics?
A proper foundation of ethics requires a standard of value to which all goals and actions can be compared
to. This standard is our own lives, and the happiness which makes them livable. This is our ultimate standard of value, the
goal in which an ethical man must always aim. It is arrived at by an examination of man's nature, and recognizing his peculiar
needs. A system of ethics must further consist of not only emergency situations, but the day to day choices we make constantly.
It must include our relations to others, and recognize their importance not only to our physical survival, but to our well-being
and happiness. It must recognize that our lives are an end in themselves, and that sacrifice is not only not necessary, but
destructive.
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Historically, the concept of morality has often been used negatively as a list of thou shall not's in check against
ones actions. The stance taken is often that it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you don't violate any moral edicts;
but the source of these moral edicts is often mystical or arbitrary.
A list of prohibitions, even if founded in reason rather than mysticism, is not a sufficient outline for success. Morality
should be positive rather than negative. Not What shouldn't I do? but What should I do?. The problem with defining
morality negatively is that pretty much anything goes provided one avoids a few problem areas. This is not useful because
within the sphere of pretty much anything goes, there is no methodical way to choose which action is best, whereas
positive morality sets forth habits which lead to the achievement of values and methods for choosing what to value which is
the way to live and thrive.
With ones own life as the standard of value, morality is not a burden to bear, but a prudent and effective guide which furthers life and success.
http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/index.html?http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/Epistemology_Deduction.html
Values
Values are that which we seek to achieve or maintain according to our life as the standard of evaluation. Values are the motive power behind purposeful action. They are the ends to which we act. Without them, life would be impossible.
Life requires self-generated action to sustain itself. Without values, one could not act, and death would follow.
Value specifies a relationship between a person and a goal. A value requires a valuer--a particular person who aims to
achieve or maintain something. An object cannot have value in itself. Value is relational, and so requires a person and a
goal. The goal to which one aims is called the "value", but the relationship is always required. This means an object cannot
be a value in itself. It only gains the title of value when a person acts to achieve or maintain it.
Values are essential to ethics. Ethics is concerned with human actions, and the choice of those actions. Ethics evaluates
those actions, and the values that underlies them. It determines which values should be pursued, and which shouldn't. Ethics
is a code of values.
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