Being trustworthy is important in our relationships with others. While that's not the whole of being an ethical person and needn't exist in perfect form, it still seems to me to be a minimal (or more-often-than-not?) requirement. We need to be able to rely on others to some extent and others need to be able to rely on us to some extent.

Karl,

Thank you for sharing - good ideas - indeed, nothing is perfect under the sun... but, more recently it seems that 'ethics' or being 'ethical' or being a person people would rely on - are on the decrease... hoping that this is not the case everywhere!

Thanks and regards

Stay safe and take care

Hi Theodora,

I am surprised at the 'doubt' implicit in this question!! As if you are unsure whether it is important or not.

Something like 'Is it good to be Good or Is it good to be Bad?' Notice the context of the third 'Good' here.

Of course it is important and not only that, it is 'the most important' and there is no ambiguity in the matter. I will try to justify my reply in my next post based on your 'We can notice now that the twisted ways are most successful'.

Looks like you've already made up your mind to be unethical!' :-)

Best.

Hello Raveendra

Thank you for your input.

I am surprised with the analysis - but you are entitled to your opinion.

Thanks and regards

Stay safe and take care

Ethics (moral philosophy) has long been considered the practical application of philosophy. It helps us discern 'right' from 'wrong', 'fair' from 'unfair' , 'good' from 'bad' . It is important on both an individual and collective basis as it contributes to unity, harmony and expectations in both the individual and society. It is suggested that ethics are learned and change over time. (Note nobody is born a racist, misogynist or feminist, it is learned) In other words ethics are organic. Many believe a conscience is the starting point of ethics so maybe we are seeing in modern times a subversion of conscience resulting in a lack of ethics?

Lorrainne Doherty

Thank you for your response - valuable information - and I tend to agree with your conclusion - so, now what can we do about it? is there anything that can be done? Any suggestions

Thanks and regards

Stay safe and take care

If we agree Ethics is applied philosophy and values that are learned, we need to make sure there are plenty of individuals on hand to teach and share the to individuals both informally & formally. Ethics needs to permeate families, formal education, religious institutions, and the like and as such the 'right' values and the 'good' values will be adopted by individuals and the greater society.

Robert Barbour

All the best.

Thanks and regards

Stay safe and take care

When a frog shoots out its tongue to catch an insect it is reacting to a small dark moving object that it cannot see well. I read somewhere that the frogs' success rate is actually only about 8% because not all small dark moving objects in their environment are flies. Nevertheless they have adapted to those conditions and 8% (or whatever) is sufficient, ceteris paribus, to facilitate their individual survival for reproductive purposes and also survival as a species. Certain elements of ethics are kind of like that. In my earlier post in this thread I suggested that a minimal amount of trustworthiness (which is a moral notion) is important. If we are to survive it is important that we be able to rely on others and others be able to rely on us to act morally to some minimal extent; if we are to survive, we can't all be morally unreliable all of the time. But maybe being morally reliable 8% (or whatever) of the time is enough.

Is being an ethical individual in this world important? Ethics help in maximum creation of an individual. Ethics are defined, illustrated and under a boundary. Twisted ways are easy, adaptable and free in nature. Twisted are more accessible to follow than Ethics. If I am given to reach a point I would choose Rabbit race than Tortoise crawling. But, will this in long run help me ? Answer is " no ". So, ethics win and are important.

Chandan Kumar

Thank you for your contribution... indeed, ethics wins - and ethics is important... yet, and unfortunately in this world of ours at this stage it seems that cutting corners and going against ethics is the best method... hope the humankind will do something to reverse this...

Regards

Thank you Ma'am. I see that Humans are the most sophisticated creatures on this Earth. Everyone is different with specific with particular finger print and eyes cornea. Humankind joins us together and distinguishes us from other living objects. Ethics are needed but many times neglected. Humankind word in itself says a " Human to be kind" or "Kind-Human". I think there is depth difference between Humanity and Human Kind if we explore. Humanity is necessity and Humankind is optional. Its not important to follow Humanity but fruitful to follow Human kind. Ethics joins both so Ethics wins.