Basic Ethics
How should we be?
Our world today seems pretty short on ethics. Many people are focused on their self-interest, and will do whatever is necessary to achieve it. Our government has ignored basic ethical principles as they seek to do their work.
I thought it might be time for a refresher. There are some core ethical principles that transcend country, politics, and religion. These are the ideas that everyone should be able to agree are important to human society. When these principles are not followed, it is fair to say that the action taken is “unethical.”
Top Four
I’ll start with the four most cited concepts, and then expand the list a little. The top four which everyone should agree on are: autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
Autonomy is the respect for each person, recognizing that everyone is capable of making informed decisions about their own lives. In religious terms, this is described as each person being created in the image of God. Showing respect for an individual means that we respect their values and beliefs, and that we tell them the truth.
Beneficence is a fancy term for trying to do good. Acting to help others and improve their well-being is universally considered ethical behavior. There may be philosophical disagreements about how to define “good,” but working toward improved well-being is widely considered ethical.
Nonmaleficence is simply defined by the medical oath to “do no harm.” It is easily stated, but some actions have consequences that we don’t anticipate which can be harmful. This means that to the extent possible, we need to anticipate possible outcomes, and avoid those that might be negative.
Justice is the idea that both costs and benefits should be distributed fairly. This is not the same as dividing things equally — it starts with basic liberties for all, but there can be inequalities if they benefit the least advantaged. Thomas Aquinas thought about justice as not just a legal issue, but a character trait. We should all be thinking about how others can get what they deserve.
Other Accepted Principles
Beyond these top four, there are several other widely accepted principles of ethical behavior: respect for human dignity, integrity, responsibility, proportionality, and solidarity. Every person has innate value, even if they aren’t able to contribute to society. We should act honestly and keep our promises. We should take responsibility for our actions, accept the consequences, and make amends for our mistakes.
Proportionality gets a little more specific. When we take a risk in order to achieve a beneficial outcome, the outcome should be worth the risk. We need to continually ask, does the end justify the means? This shows up in just war theory, when an attack should be only as damaging as is necessary to achieve the objective.
Finally, solidarity recognizes that everything we do affects others. We are interdependent. Our smallest choices have an impact, because they are multiplied by many millions of people. This is the principle behind recycling, public health efforts, education, and law enforcement. Even our choices about what to buy and how to spend our time have an impact.
Our Current Situation
Looking at the news through this ethical lens helps me to see that we are moving in the wrong direction as a country. Using our economic and military power to get what we want violates virtually all of these principles. The tactics used by ICE don’t even consider ethical restraint. And the misinformation that is being spread attempts to justify the government’s behavior.
It is up to all of us to push in every way for compliance with these ethics. History shows that when they are disregarded, terrible things can happen.
Well said Bob. Also, Happy Belated Birthday.