Simply put, ethics are the codes that guide our thoughts and actions; they determine the purpose of our life. This seems to be an easily understandable concept, and really, it should be. Why then, does it seem to be so often neglected? The trouble, I think, stems from the education we receive at early ages. For example, we're taught honesty is a virtue. Great, but when the only answer I can get out of my peers about why we should be honest is: "Because lying is bad," we have our problem. People focus so much on secondary causes (virtue) that they are unable to answer or forget about the fundamental issues determining virtue, values. A proper system of ethics cannot exist without first defining values that determine such a moral system. Virtue presupposes value, because the purpose of virtue is to keep and achieve what we value.
Values: (Objective) Reason, Self Esteem, Purpose
Virtues: Rationality, Pride, Productivity, Integrity, Honesty, Independence, Justice.
Before I give examples and definitions of these principles, I need to first explain the importance of objective values. By objective, I mean based on facts. Our core values are absolute and uncompromisable. They are not whimsical, and are by no means utilitarian, in which concepts such as good and evil are subjective from day to day. In the simplest sense, A is A, never B, just as B is B, never A. This may seem extreme, but let me illustrate an example. How many people do you know, from politicians, to coworkers, to friends, that claim to like honesty, integrity, and justice? The majority of them. How many do you know that truly adhere to the virtues they want to live by? The number is probably much smaller. The reason for this is avoidance, conscious or unconscious. People try to live by virtue without ever bothering to understand the value systems that determine it. The results can be seen all over the world today: Religious radicals who claim that killing is evil, yet are willing to take a life on a whim should someone disagree with them. Politicians who preach family value, yet cheat on their spouses. Rioters who demand "equality" from the government, but are willing to violate the rights of others by burning private property. These are all extreme, but the results of non-objective values are ultimately all the same: irrationality and hypocrisy.
Reason: Living within the context of reality, ie, dealing with facts. Individuals often spend too much time debating decisions on what "could, would, or should, be." They make a tragic mistake by focusing on ideas that are disconnected from reality. As humans, reason is our means to survival. We have few other advantageous abilities.
Corresponding virtue, Rationality:
Rationality is achieved by living in accordance with honesty, justice, independence, and integrity.
Honesty: We are consistent with the facts of reality. People fail when they disconnect themselves from reality. Lying is ultimately self-destructive, because it forces one to be in constant conflict with reality in order to maintain the untruth.
Integrity: We will always act consistently with our principles, because our principles were determined through objective logic. Short term benefits are considered, but they are never able to justify acting inconsistently with our principles, because ultimately that will be a long-term detriment. We will not compromise our values under any circumstances.
Justice: We will not exchange a higher value for a lower one. We reward individuals based on their contributions to accomplishing our goals and their adherence to our values. Those who contribute the most will earn the most. Essentially we are a meritocracy in the purest sense, and our creed is "Judge and prepare to be judged yourself." (with reason)
Independence: The essence of this entire system of value and virtue is individualism. We push ourselves and others to achieve their maximum potential through individual thought and effort. Creativity is only possible for the individual. Teamwork is important, but only through voluntary agreement that acknowledges that our minds are separate. The collective mob is never the standard for value. Individuals are responsible for their own thoughts and actions, and will be evaluated accordingly.
Self- Esteem: A strong work ethic, self motivation, and an expectation to succeed. As you can see, this last part, confidence, could be easily misconstrued if we didn't first value Reason. While we have self esteem, we recognize areas in which we must improve. One should have strong personal goals and place their long term self interest on the highest pedestal.
Corresponding virtue, Pride: Pride was once said to be the highest of all virtues, because it presupposed all the rest. One can only truly be proud if they adhere to all of their values, objectively. Pride comes from living honestly, independently, etc. Reason again, is key to this virtue, as pride can easily turn into arrogance if once doesn't maintain rationality.
Purpose: I once read a quote by Albert Camus that said:
"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy."
The most important question one can answer is: "Why live?" It seems so simple but it's so often neglected. Ask yourself, what are you living for? Yourself? Others? Can you truly ever live for others? I've found the purpose of my life is the experience of living in whichever way I rationally see fit.
Corresponding virtue, Productivity:
Once we know purpose, we can commit ourselves to taking the necessarily actions to produce happiness.
The Six L's to Living:
Live Consciously: One remains ever-aware of the present moment. One of my favorite writers, Seneca, once wrote that one should remember the past, live in the present, and anticipate the future.
Live Purposefully: One seeks to reach ones highest potential. "No Goals, no Glory!"
Live with Integrity: One knows and understands his/her principles and lives by them consciously and consistently. "He sets his feet on a rock, not upon sinking sand." - Godly Man, one of my favorite songs.
Live with Self-Acceptance: One lives accepting who they are at the present moment, but acknowledges there are still things they desire to become.
Live with Self-Assertiveness: One must honor himself and his values with word and action.
Live with Self-Responsibility: One is responsible for their own destiny. Some events may be out of ones control, but in the grand spectrum of life, the individual must create the world they wish to live in. This comes from my favorite quote. "Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours." - Ayn Rand
