Ephrat Livni, Quartz; It’s impossible to lead a totally ethical life—but it’s fun to try
"It’s true that practically everything we do in life has ethical
repercussions. “Any decision that has an impact on others now or in the
future is an ethical choice,” explains ethicist Christopher Gilbert,
author of the new book There’s No Right Way To Do the Wrong Thing. Gilbert
says it’s useful to consider ethics like a moral ladder. On the lowest
rung, you think only of yourself. Past the middle rung, you’re thinking
of the decision’s influence on some. And on the highest rungs, you’re
wondering how every choice impacts all affected by it. “When we step up
that ladder and consistently strive to stay at the top rung, we are
living an ethical life,” he says.
Will we be at the top rung all of the time? Almost certainly not. But
the answer isn’t to throw up our hands. Rather, we can keep on trying,
every day and throughout our lives, to approach the world thoughtfully
and consider the implications of our individual actions on others."
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