And, yes, I answered every question honestly, and quite a few of them from my own life experiences. I know which one clobbered my chance at a perfect 100, but I disagree with the basis of the answer -- the question, as phrased, actually establishes a conflict between two ethical values, and does not provide an answer that allows one to satisfy both values. It is the classic problem of the Silence of the Confessional.
Now, the conundrum: am I actually proud of such a high score? The honest anser is: "no, it makes me uncomfortable." Therein lies some fertile ground for discussion, I think. Why should an allegedly ethical person feel uncomfortable about being ethical? Is it something about the social environment of that person, or is it a matter of that person knowing he must occasionally face unpleasant consequences as a result of his ethics? Or is it just a personl problem? <g>
As for 'Ruki's comments about ethics, I think s/he's hit the nail on the head with just about all of hir observations and quotes. One point I would add, however, is that all ethics are necessarily self-centered. It is only to the extent that ethics improve the life of the individual adhering to them that ethics have any real power to govern that individual's behavior. Even in those cases where ethics seem to result in unpleasant consequences for the individual, the individual will only adhere to those ethics if that individual perceives an ultimate benefit from so doing. All of the excuses cited lose their power to undermine ones ethics when one realizes this fact. Upon such realization, ethical adherence is no longer a matter of resisting temptation, but instead it becomes a question of "what choices will make me truly happiest, overall?"
At least, this is how I believe, and it has served me well. As such, I really cannot cite an excuse for violating my own ethics -- there is no reason that could excuse denying myself my greatest overall happiness. Well, with the possible exception of ignorance, that holds true; ignorance of what choices ultimately result in my happiness could lead me to choose incorrectly, but the passage of time and the accumulation of experience tend to cure such ignorance. |
