If you were constructing a set of ethical principles, what would you add to this list?

Question

Respect for and promotion of:

1. Each person's inherent worth and dignity
2. The search for truth
3. The role of conscience
4. Liberty, justice, compassion and peace
5. Spiritual growth
6. Democracy
7. Nature

Please do not simply elaborate on one of the principles listed.

If you would remove or replace a principle, please indicate that too, and explain why.

Thank you in advance!

Thanks to all for their answers. jkk k, comic relief is often welcome. aunt_mab and Kevin C, certainly respect for personal responsibility, freedom, and life is intended to be at the heart of these ethics, though it isn't too clear in this abbreviated form. Why remove democracy? sophist, I confess that I'm puzzled by your remark. Izen G, reverence for what? Everything? no one, I like that a lot and if expansion of the listed principles didn't make that clear, then the list should have this added in the #1 position. Finally, raindove, others also mentioned the unborn, but I suspect that literally defining the "rights" of the unborn, when those rights appear, etc would take some doing. Thanks again!

Answer 1

give rights to the unborn!!!

Answer 2

Reverence

Answer 3

You fail to indicate to what purpose this code is devised. That greatly affects the choices. So far, the list is somewhat dictatorial and thought controlling. As a personal code, that may be all well and good, but for any other purpose, I have reservations.

Answer 4

I would remove democracy, though I admire it, as an ethically neutral form of social goverance.

I would consider make explicit how respect of personal responsibility, freedom, and life covers - well, maybe everything else.

Answer 5

I would add a respect for life. It would include the unborn and the aged and all living creatures. So no abusing animals or people.

Answer 6

those are great and hippie and all...but...i would add realistic true life factors to the list like:

- if i cheat on my girlfriend...what are the ways to get away with it
- how can i best steal without getting caught
- how can i use illegal drugs legally
- how do i convince the girl to get an abortion
- if i cant get the girl to abort the bastard (literally), how do i get out of paying child support
- how can i tell if the skank i am going to have sex with is hiv positive or has herpes because i feel like getting feaky on her without a condom

there are more but i have a pretty bad hangover and gonna smoke up a little to get rid of it...

Answer 7

*Do no harm