The Tightrope of Ethical Amorality
Wrote a short essay on ethical amorality for a market that wants strongly argued opinion pieces. :)
The Tightrope of Ethical Amorality
I am amoral.
I am also ethical.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines "morals" as "Rules or habits of conduct, especially of sexual conduct, with reference to standards of right and wrong." Mainstream American society has historically placed great emphasis on the importance of morality. With the Puritans as our forefathers, this should come as no shock. Puritan society punished people who did not hold to standard morals. Sometimes it cost them their homes, their status, their economic standing, and even their lives.
Morals are a product of society imposed on its members. In modern society, how often are people who refuse to conform to standard morals denounced as "immoral" or "unethical"? If someone announces that zhe is amoral, people will often shy away from hir. Society has taught us to fear people who don't follow its morals.
Ethics, on the other hand, is a whole different ball of wax.
"Ethics"--"A set of principles of right conduct."
There is no mention of set standards in this definition. Ethics are a personal code of behavior, or perhaps honor. It has nothing to do with society's expectations. It has to do with your own beliefs about right, wrong, and what lies in between.
I am Christian pagan, bisexual, masochistic, and polyamorous. Much of mainstream American society would consider my actions immoral. I prefer to heal rather than harm. When I hurt someone unintentionally, I apologize and try to make amends. But when I hurt someone intentionally, I don't feel guilty and I don't regret it. I put myself ahead of society; if they have a problem with my actions, they can deal. As to legalities, I take heed of the consquences. No matter how angry I may be, no one is worth spending my life in jail over.
I'm not immoral. I'm amoral.
It's more than possible to be amoral and ethical. However, there's a certain point past which personal ethics cannot clash with societal morals. While you may believe that certain laws and such are wrong, if you break them, you have to be willing to face the consequences. Even when legality is not an issue, people who do not adhere to common morals run the risk of losing their job and perhaps their family. In certain areas of the country, perhaps even their lives.
You still have to be able to function in the society in which you live in, or else be willing to pay the consequences. There's a line in the sand past which you do not cross. I walk that line as if it were a tightrope. It may be difficult, but it's worth it to me. I'd rather fall than let other people dictate what I can and cannot believe and do.
The Tightrope of Ethical Amorality
I am amoral.
I am also ethical.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines "morals" as "Rules or habits of conduct, especially of sexual conduct, with reference to standards of right and wrong." Mainstream American society has historically placed great emphasis on the importance of morality. With the Puritans as our forefathers, this should come as no shock. Puritan society punished people who did not hold to standard morals. Sometimes it cost them their homes, their status, their economic standing, and even their lives.
Morals are a product of society imposed on its members. In modern society, how often are people who refuse to conform to standard morals denounced as "immoral" or "unethical"? If someone announces that zhe is amoral, people will often shy away from hir. Society has taught us to fear people who don't follow its morals.
Ethics, on the other hand, is a whole different ball of wax.
"Ethics"--"A set of principles of right conduct."
There is no mention of set standards in this definition. Ethics are a personal code of behavior, or perhaps honor. It has nothing to do with society's expectations. It has to do with your own beliefs about right, wrong, and what lies in between.
I am Christian pagan, bisexual, masochistic, and polyamorous. Much of mainstream American society would consider my actions immoral. I prefer to heal rather than harm. When I hurt someone unintentionally, I apologize and try to make amends. But when I hurt someone intentionally, I don't feel guilty and I don't regret it. I put myself ahead of society; if they have a problem with my actions, they can deal. As to legalities, I take heed of the consquences. No matter how angry I may be, no one is worth spending my life in jail over.
I'm not immoral. I'm amoral.
It's more than possible to be amoral and ethical. However, there's a certain point past which personal ethics cannot clash with societal morals. While you may believe that certain laws and such are wrong, if you break them, you have to be willing to face the consequences. Even when legality is not an issue, people who do not adhere to common morals run the risk of losing their job and perhaps their family. In certain areas of the country, perhaps even their lives.
You still have to be able to function in the society in which you live in, or else be willing to pay the consequences. There's a line in the sand past which you do not cross. I walk that line as if it were a tightrope. It may be difficult, but it's worth it to me. I'd rather fall than let other people dictate what I can and cannot believe and do.