how do you generally solve ethical dilemmas?
are there any everyday occurrences or cultural occurrences that you see as unethical?
some possible examples are, buying children video games or toys that promote violence, eating meat, giving kids junk food etc.
should we be concerned with whether or not our leaders are ethical?
© 2026 – SoulSequel
19 responses to “ethics”
Society is a reflection of the ethics of its leadership, so for sure we should be concerned if a leader display unethical attributes.
I solve them personally by allowing myself to err on the side of stupidity as measure by the dollars and cents. I once walked away from $5,000 because I promised I would sell a car at a given price to someone I didn’t even really know. But I proved to myself that my word is my bond and not just something I give lip service to. The value of that is way past five grand.
i think I try to understand how I would feel personally by experiencing a behaviour imposed on me and then use that as my bar.
The biggest cultural occurrence of pure unethical behaviour is when Christians judge others, when it is totally against the teaching of the namesake of the religion. It is claiming to be “Christian” but advocating against equality.
and on the gun issue, another example of immorality; the First Commandment was clarified by Jesus. He said (in re-iteration) You have heard that thou shalt not kill, but I say that becomes redundant when you don’t WANT to kill.
Even in self defense, wanting to kill is against the teachings of Christ. Wanting to kill a murderer is just the same thing as murder in the first degree or second if you want to get technical. If people really believe that there is life ever after, they have to let go of the unethical response to find satisfaction in wanting to end the life of another for any reason. If you want to fuck somebody up real bad, you are not a real Christian. You are a hypocrite of the highest degree. However an argument could be made that we may not want to kill a murderer but may feel like we have to. That is a question that just might not even have an answer.
@spitfire3dc *everyone* is a hypocrite, the only difference is where it lies!
@spitfire3dc the situation you described implies integrity. what is the most common ethical dilemma you encounter? have you ever considered using an ethical decision making framework to make the decision? on the topic of the death penalty and judgement by christians both, don’t you think those individuals are simply being emotionally reactive. What should justice look like for someone who takes a life?
@Scarlett most common ethical dilemma is probably withholding my honest opinion if I think there will be negative personal repercussions.
Nope.
Yes, they are being emotionally reactive, but that is no excuse to be a hypocrite. Be a jerk if you want. Its a free country. But don’t say you’re a follower of Jesus.
Someone who kills is broken. Its not hard to suggest that reactionary vengeance is the result of being broken by exposure to the event that precipitate it. That’s perhaps a long way of saying, “I dunno”
@Scarlett
Perhaps a mix between “an eye for an eye makes us all go blind”.
And recognizing a certain quality and or quantity of manifest violations of the social contract warrant removal for the sake of the greater whole.
It is an equation we should be able to resolve far better than we currently do. But we’ve fallen into a system of using legal wranglings based on the letter of the law rather than the spirit of it; to grant an array of lavish rights to those who have shown no inclination towards honoring their responsibilities to the society offering the rights.
And most of this at the behest of those who are overly controlled by their emotions; and seem bent on the destruction of our society just to prove a notion that they are “nice”.
Because the society will fly apart if enough people lose their respect for the judicial system.
And won’t that be “nice”?
@spitfire3dc
I wonder how things would be different if we started with a different presumption: that the leaders should be a reflection of the Society? But that would have to entail a society that essentially “hires” and pays the leaders.
I just thought of this the other day, quite possibly for the first time in human history. It would be neat if a nation were to arise and test this with perseverance and determination.
I quickly rationalize the choice that will bring me the most fleeting satisfaction.
We should always be concerned whether or not others are ethical so we can blackmail them for big bucks!!!!
@luftballooneyegouge blackmail is not only illegal, it’s unethical as well!
@Jear77
Do you go through non-virtual life this humorlessly?
@luftballooneyegouge keep in mind that there is no tone of voice online
@Jear77
yuh huh…
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/tone-of-voice-dimensions/
@luftballooneyegouge do you find yourself in very many ethical dilemmas? What was the last ethical dilemma you encountered?
I’m so puuuuure & niiiiiice!
@Scarlett
I believe I am judged as I judge. And it happens to me all the time.
This is why I am merciful in judgment.
(Because God taught me to follow this way.)
@five2one healthy people work towards becoming non-judgmental, but I don’t know if it is possible to be completely non0judging. How would we remain moral?
@Scarlett
Add another level of consideration: Discerning unto caution/correction.
It’s like a non-judgemental judgement with an intent not to condemn but to make things better.
And then factor in if they are just messing up their own internal Kingdom (the Eigerweldt), or the shared social reality (Midweldt).
There’s a difference between someone crapping in their own bed, and taking a dump in the town well that we all have to share
@Scarlett ” healthy people work towards becoming non-judgmental, but I don’t know if it is possible to be completely non0judging. How would we remain moral?”
How can someone remain “moral” by judging a serial killer as sick?
By being a doctor and using the eyes of a doctor, that is how.
I somehow think you knew the answer to this response.
First I tried to separate between genuine ethical issues and feelings issues. As a species we too often mix these up. A toned and developed ethical structure uses our emotions as cues. But an overdeveloped emotional structure doesn’t trigger, play off of or a lot of times even respect true ethical considerations.
Moral laziness is something else we are very head-blind to.
First I will consult the transcendent concepts that were ever present in my upbringing; and most of which I’ve come to trust over time (often by questioning them!)
Then I will subject it to prayerful meditation. This gives another opportunity to discern between true ethics, moral lassitude and emotional fad-ism.
Then I will seek out wise counsel.
Which actually is quite different than seeking out a cheering squad composed of self-affirming toadies to just agree with me.
This is actually a good sign that I am trying to justify something my subconscious is telling me is unethical.
And then I make my decision, act on it, and measure the results.
(For broader social considerations and concerns I will add a few extra steps)
Ask yourself, will my (your) actions today pass the “Headline” test? Will what I (you) do or say become fuel on the fire of controversy that puts me, my, or our circle of friends and colleagues in a bad light in the general public’s eye? Do my (your) words and deeds reflect negatively on my (your) close community?
Ethical behavior is doing the right thing without regard for ones own well-being. Honesty, loyalty, and Integrity to ones convictions.