What are personal ethics? Does everyone have them? And what are they for? This article explores the philosophy of ethics and human nature.
Personal ethics are the moral foundation on which people build their lives. They assist in decision making, guiding you to participate in actions that meet your internal moral standards. Ethics represents the core value system you use for everyday problem solving. They create a framework for determining “right” versus “wrong”. Ethics are developed throughout life based on a wide variety of factors. They are not absolute rules. For many people, personal ethics are not ever clearly defined. They simply consider their “inner voice” to be all the ethical guidance they need. After all, intuition plays a large role in what one finds ethical.
There are several aspects of personal ethics which can vary greatly from person to person. Broken down, personal ethics impact behaviors which generally fall into the following framework:
Value of Others
Ethics relates considerably to how one person treats another person in terms of respect, concern for their wellbeing and recognition of their autonomy. It strongly impacts the depth and longevity of relationships.
Value of Society
How one interacts with society as a whole also speaks to their ethical standards. This includes compliance with the law, conforming to generally accepted social norms, and contributing to the community.
Value of Self
How a person presents themselves is an indicator of personal ethics. This refers to trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, and consistency.
In other words, you can see the physical manifestation of your personal ethics in behaviors that impact your relationships with others, your role in society and your personal identity. Though this framework is not necessarily comprehensive, it provides a basic platform on which to evaluate the role of ethics in everyday life.
There has been much debate surrounding ethics and the human condition. Ancient philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates questioned the nature of ethics, asking if the concept was an innate human characteristic (existing at birth) or one created by the brain as a result of its environment. They also delved deep into the core of the issue and asked, “Is it human nature to be ethical?” Or are ethical choices the result of deliberate thoughtful consideration? Must one study “how” to be ethical or is it an unconscious routine? Are moral laws objective and defined by rational reason? Or are they based on personal, subjective feelings? Furthermore, the great philosophers asked, “Must one be conscious of the ethical decision in order for it to be considered truly ethical?
Such questions still trigger debate today. Many of the world’s greatest minds concluded that the human condition is good and its overriding nature is to create happiness in strong bonds with others. These philosophical questions are an excellent way to begin questioning and evaluating your own sense of ethics and beliefs of human nature.
