Do Ethics Matter Any More?

Do Ethics Matter Any More? 

The idea of ethics have been bouncing around and discussed for centuries. You are a busy person, and ethics seems perhaps dated or trite? You might wonder, “what place do they have in my modern world”? One sure way, and direct as well, to view ethics, voiced by Plato, centuries ago, is to do what one “ought” to do.

Many of us don’t want to hear what you ought to do. But, you might want to be   encouraged you to look at yourself, clearly and without excuses, and to have an honest assessment of who you are, and decide your own set of values.

Lying, cheating, stealing, failure to honor your commitments are all common flaws today, and people will try to avoid responsibility for those flaws. These traits have been  plaguing people throughout history.  However, simply look at yourself, not others, either people you know today, or the people of the past.

Now, what are your ethics?  Have you lived your life by your ethics, or were they the ethics imposed on you by a parent, parents, brothers, sisters, or lovers or spouses?  Have you ever really looked inside yourself to feel and view your true ethical character?  Are you ready to do so now?

The review and understanding of your ethics are tied to (a) a true
assessment of yourself, in full color and nakedness to your open mind, and (b) sufficient education and willingness to do something about them.

Yes, ethics matter just as much today, as they have throughout history. Seek yours.

Taking Responsibility

 

by  David Pavek

It’s may be trite, and well worn, but the discussion of taking responsibility for your actions is still important. It’s important in so many ways. Mostly, if you care about yourself, and your self-worth, you should probably be prepared to take responsibility Taking Responsibility, David Pavekfor yourself. We are not discussion, or really referring to, the worth you might have with money, cars or houses. Rather, we are discussing your moral worth.

Nathaniel Branden has commented upon this topic in his book Taking Responsibility. There, he writes, “if we did not have to make choices – if we couldn’t pursue many different goals by many different means – we would not need a code of morality. If our life and well-being did not depend on our making choices that are appropriate both to reality and to our own nature, we would not have to deal with questions like: by what values should I live my life? By what principles should I act? What should I seek and what should I avoid?”

Do you know the answers to these questions? Do you believe that you have the capacity to make appropriate choices? And, do you make these appropriate choices? We all make choices which lead to things which may be inappropriate, or not what we want. You may speed through a traffic light, just as it turns red, and get a ticket, or worse, get into a car accident. When that happens, will you, and do you, take responsibility? Do you blame the other driver for being “stupid” or the cop for doing his or her job? Continue reading

Personal Characteristics

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Align your steps

If you inventory some of your personal characteristics, can you distinguish them from your Core Values? To test if you are being honest with yourself in your life is to learn if your personal characteristics are truly aligned with what you believe are your Core Values. These characteristics can be as small as you being generous or miserly, always honest or sometimes deceitful, or are you honest with your own flaws? Look closely to your own character and listen to the ones you love when they tell you what they see and feel about you. Be true to your real self. If not now, then when?