Understanding the benefits of being ethical

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
21

Yes, I agree that this is what Ethics is about.

To be precise, “goodness” is a term in Meta-Ethics. So let’s talk Meta-Ethics!

As I explained in another thread on the theme “value” and “good,” value depends upon meaning. What does “meaning” mean? Magnus Anderson asked. He had already answered that question earlier. To formal axiologists and to logicians, meaning is comprised of the intension, the extension, and the connotation.

Goodness is full value. And to express it here informally, when the actual matches a positive, constructive ideal, the result is: value.

The ‘ideal’ is a cluster of attributes (a description), and attributes are names of properties. When the actual (thing, person, or event) possesses properties that completely match that conceived ideal, the valuer, the judge of value, is likely to call the situation “Good.” “A good meal” for example, is a meal that is everything you suppose a meal to be: it is ‘all there’ under its concept.

Hence “a good individual” has all the properties [that used to be known as the “virtues”] that Virtue Theory and the modern interpretation of Ethics analysts say a person of good character would have, and strives to avoid having the properties of a “bad character.”
The ethical individual avoids being characterized by the attributes of the bad guys, the human predators, the sociopaths, the dishonest, the unjust, the cheaters, the chronic liars, the bullies, the exploiters, the fascists, the cruel, or of those who worship money as a god.
The greedy hold the position “There is never enough” whereas you, Dan, were making the point earlier that we may be content, and have peace-of-mind, with a sufficiency. We don’t have to be greedy.

Comments? Questions? Views on these topics?

22

Happiness can’t be bought.
Capitalists would argue that it can be bought.

As long as i have the basics, I’m super appreciative.

You talked about good being a cluster of values and expectations.

I think good is a huge concept.
It can handle dissection,
but it can also be seen as a greater category.

Good is how to live, too.
The good life.
Good is all about the good life.

Earth would be a paradise if everyone cooperated and behaved themselves.

23

I couldn’t agree more!

That is why I’d urge people to help with The Ethics Project – or to create similar nonprofit organizations dedicated to good cause work. Action speaks louder than words. Good intentions without follow-through is not the Ethical procedure, as Kant pointed out, and for which he argued well, in his Grundlagen, the Metaphysics of Morals.

24

Earlier I wrote:

Being ethical involves acting in a way that is consistent with moral
principles and values, such as authenticity, honesty, fairness, respect for others, kindness, civility, readiness to be of service, liberty, social justice, responsibility, accountability, and autonomy.

Ethics means creating value in our interactions with others. It means making choices and decisions that reflect these values; and living by one’s moral
standards and principles, and avoiding actions that are armful or
violate ethical norms.

Hence we are to find ways to express these concerns in action, in our
daily life. [Some of the ways we do this are in our political life, in our
democratic votes, ballot initiatives, in our campaigns, and in our efforts
as influencers.]

some opposites of ethics are corruption, selfishness, cheating,
extreme hypocrisy, constant lying. Also immoral are disparaging
others, dehumanizing them, trolling, exploitation of others, cruelty, fascism, as well as a resort to violence, torture, etc. We need to immunize ourselves from
the human predators, those with bad characters. The Ethics Project
will help us to do this.

Your comments are welcome!

25

.

In addition to the ten benefits of living ethically which were listed in the first three posts of this thread, we now have three more benefits to add to the list, as follows:

  1. The world will be a better place in which to live and thrive if we behave ethically and morally. So that is the way to conduct yourself if you want the Good Life for one and all.
    (…with thanks to Dan for his contribution.)

  2. Another benefit ithat results when one practices living ethically is that one gets to live with a clear conscience.
    (…with thanks to Ecmandu.)

  3. The concept of Karma says that if you live ethically, you are likely to create a future for yourself that is positive; and unexpected blessings may occur in your future!
    [Ralph Waldo Emerson referred to this as “Compensation” in a famous essay he wrote on this topic.]
    (…with thanks to Ben JS.)

To all Readers: Can you suggest another benefit?

…In a future post the costs of being ethical will be discussed.

26

The cost may be you get a little bit less for yourself if you
share with those in need. Also vegetarianism is an example
of forgoing a certain thing for a moral reasoning.
Happiness from the taste of meat,
vs happiness of knowing you did not contribute to a killing of an animal.

Vegetarianism seems to be one of the few
cost / benefit equations which has to do with ethics.
Also giving donations to the poor.

27

It turns out then that the ’cost’ examples, that were offered in the quote, are actually subtle examples of benefits!

If Karma, as a moral principle, is true - and according to careful empirical research done way back in 2010, more than 1.5 llion people were adherents to that principle – then they would contend that contributing to the poor actually builds up positive karma for one who who does that: his/her future may likely bring a surprise reward.

And – since a plant-based diet is healthier for human-beings than is eating the flesh of other animals – vegetarianism is really a blessing in disguise. It turns out that those who eat fresh, raw, unprocessed organic salads often gain some health benefits.
[size=50](Experimental evidence from the experience of new vegetarians shows that a taste for meat soon disappears; often within less than two months. The taste-buds of the tongue become sensitized. What results often are the benefits of glowing, vibrant health! It is however not enough to be a vegetarian to in order to get these benefitsls; in addition it is recommended by the serious students of those who know first-hand what is required to be healthy, that if one has a raw fruit salad to start the day, and a raw vegetable salad in the evening, they are far-more likely to lead a relatively-pain-free life: That has at least been my personal experience – but by far, not mine alone.}
[No medical claims are being, or have been, made here.] [/size]

28

I tried to explain the negative perception of the 2 sacrifices:
Giving to the poor & eating veggie.

You are looking at the positive side of that.

I’m not disagreeing with you.
I’m saying some people hold these reasons,
as the reasons for not donating or going veggie.

Ideally it is a virtue to be wise and insightful.
That would reduce exploitation and con artists.
It is good to out think possible enemies / exploitation.
Nothing wrong with self defense.
Martial arts are a good thing, for example.

29

We are ‘on the same page.’ I’m in accord with your views.

The possible cost that I had in mind was that an ethical individual might be taken advantage of by a human predator, or by a con-artist. A sociopath, and/or one who has a criminal mind may attempt to spam or defraud the moral person who is gullible enough to fall for it. That is why the new perspective on Ethical theory teaches a certain degree of healthy skepticism. “Trust, but verify.”

Comments? …Anyone here have a benefit or a cost to add?

30

Ethical is easy. Don’t be an evil fucker. And try to be good to people when you can, all things being equal.

Not that difficult. Unless you’re some kind of delusional psychotic fucktard.

31

Do you still have unconditional positive regard for delusional psychotic fucktards, Humanize?

I know I do. Unless they be comin at me. And even then it’s just self- or other-defense. Nothing personal.

32

No, and I never did.

Then you are evil.

33

So you pick & choose who counts as a person to be good to when you can. No wonder you think it is not that difficult.

What is a wonder is how you concluded I am evil (not that I deny such). Care to walk me through it?

34

You have unconditional positive regard for evil people. Only another evil person could possibly feel that way.

35

This does ring true. Being able to and committing oneself to “reading the future” as you say - to question, to know and understand future consequences beforehand" shows a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to “doing no harm”.

It also does show conscious awareness - self awareness and intelligence.

You can see the lack thereof when people are driving down the street, for instances, and texting. Just an example. Being ethical can be subtle.

36

I was watching this video about prudence, one of the four cardinal virtues. Anticipating consequences so as to avoid harmful ones requires we be honest with ourselves about the way things really are. If all of our forethought isn’t bent towards that end, what is the freaking point?

37

Kind of like the wise and foolish virgins - but not quite.

What virtue would you say is even more important than prudence?

38

Love. self=other compassion

I think it was also mentioned in the vid.

youtu.be/j_o46yLn0m0

39

Yes that is what I was trying to get at :smiley: :sunglasses:

Exactly. Ethics is built into our everyday experiences in ways we often do not see. Often this is a lack of proper ethics, which can and if extended over time most certainly will eventually produce negative outcomes on ourselves and those around us.

Ethics as I see it is therefore a kind of natural regulating mechanism, a manifestation of order-producing principles required for certain thresholds or levels of existence to reliably obtain. This also shows why evil is always a parasite upon the good and why the good is always the rule, evil the exception. Despite that evil has more immediate power insofar as evil is able to break with rules and release directed entropy outside of conventional bounds, these deterritorialized lines of flight and new possibilities afforded to evil which give it tremendous power over the good do not result in evil triumphing over good. Why? Because evil is not ontologically grounded, it is the remainder and parasitic expression of an unresolvable excess. Not to say that this is ONLY what evil is, but it is a large part of it.