The chapters of this book lay out a plan for that conscious effort. It is a plan to become skilled ethical decision makers.
In the first phase, we develop awareness of ethical temptation and compromise.
Chapter 1
We sensitize ourselves to the handful of basic ethical wrongs that characterize most compromises. Although we may encounter ethical dilemmas—forcing us to choose between two ethical principles—usually we face instead temptations to lie, deceive, steal, or harm. Our goal is to become aware of these temptations—and how serious our transgressions can become.
In the next phase, we learn how to use ethical logic and principles to foster clear thinking.
Chapter 2
We learn the distinctions necessary to reason ethically: the difference between prudential, legal, and ethical dimensions of an action; between positive and negative ethics; and between the action-based and consequence-based schools of thought. Our goal is to become thoughtful about ethical reasoning.
Chapter 3
We learn to identify the ethical principles we have derived, consciously or unconsciously, from our religion, upbringing, and culture. We also learn to identify the gaps where our existing principles give inadequate guidance. Our goal is to become mindful of our inner voice.
In the third phase, we learn to make ethical choices.
Chapter 4
We identify the common ethical challenges in our life, evaluate them with ethical reasoning skills from chapter 2, and commit to new ethical principles. Our work is akin to setting up a filing system: once we allocate our ethical challenges to proper folders, we don’t have to evaluate them anymore. Our goal is to create an ethical code. We can then use the code to make resolute, life-enhancing decisions.
Chapter 5
We learn the three-step process for creative ethical decision making. We practice clarifying the challenge, generating creative alternatives, testing the alternatives, and weighing consequences. Our goal is to become skilled and decisive.
In the final phase, we learn to go beyond ethical basics to using ethics as a lever for better living
Chapter 6
Instead of using the three-step process just to do the “right thing,” we strive to use it to do the “best” thing. We learn to seek the whole truth of our behavior, reframe situations to focus on relationships, and use the “loved one” test. Our goal is to use transformative thinking in personal life.
Chapter 7
We learn to do the “best” thing at work as well in our personal lives. We again use the whole truth concept, reframe situations to focus on relationships, and adopt the “loved one” test. Our goal is to use transformative thinking in work life.
We all yearn to realize the best in ourselves. What confidence can we have that we are succeeding if we feel uncertain about whether we are handling ethical decision making the right way? By developing new thinking habits, we respond to ethical challenges by doing the right thing and living lives of meaning and integrity.
