What is Ethics? - YouTube

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.