Ethics and Decision-Making

Introduction

• The quantity of decisions made daily ranges from 70 to 35,000.
• The focus should be on the quality of decisions rather than the quantity.
• Ethics is a tool to differentiate between good and bad decisions.

Understanding Ethics

• Definition: Ethics is the branch of philosophy that asks, "What should we do?"
• It involves the study of:
  • Values
  • Principles
  • Beliefs
  • Norms
• Key Questions:
  • How should we live?
  • What choices should we make?
  • What makes our lives worth living?

Ethical Dilemmas

• Example Scenario:
  • Friend Lee confides struggles with depression and isolation.
  • Another friend expresses frustration over Lee's absence from social events.
• Dilemma:
  • Keep Lee's secret (risking further isolation) or break trust to show empathy and compassion.

Values and Principles

• Values: What we hold good and care about (e.g., justice, family, trust).
• Principles: Guide how we act on our values; they determine acceptable methods for achieving what we value.
• Conflicting values example:
  • Trustworthiness vs. Compassion.

Decision-Making Process

• Need to determine:
  • Which values and principles to adopt.
  • How to resolve conflicts of values (good vs. good, right vs. right).
• Guiding Purpose:
  • Identifying a purpose can help in making ethical decisions.
  • Reflect on the purpose of friendship in the context of the dilemma concerning Lee.

Conclusion

• Every choice impacts the world; understanding your purpose can influence your decisions.
• Aim to make choices that are both good and right—ones that you can justify and feel proud of.