THE ETHICAL LIFE IS THE VALUABLE LIFE
[b]To add value is commendable. It could get one promoted at work. It could make life more enjoyable at home. In one’s daily life one may add value also.
If enough of us do it, as a result of the education we have received, the world that results cannot help but be a better place to live, for our lives will gain in quality.
The education to which this refers informs people that the discipline of living ethically implies that adding value to be in one’s optimal self-interest,
What is “quality”? asks the philosopher.
Let us define it as being comprised of properties {that are perceived} and property-names {that are conceived}. The latter we may speak of as “attributes.” A set of attributes form a meaning The richer something is in properties, the more quality it has. Or alternatively, if one conceives of the thing or the situation or the individual as more meaningful, the more quality that will be said to have.
So the Ethical life is a life of quality, it is a meaningful life. It is a life that harvests joy, that cultivates happiness while being effective in getting worthwhile projects done It does not neglect practicality. It is oriented toward solving problems. It is optimistic while being realistic.[/b]
It is, at one and the same time, Care-based, Ends-based, and Rule-based.
What is the rule? It says: Do not do to others what you wouldn’t want done to yourself. Another perspective could be framed this way: If everyone in your situation were to behave in the way you are considering doing, would you like to live in that kind of world? Littering, for example. Murdering, for another. Misleading, cheating, committing fraud for other examples. Do you want a world where bribery is rampant? If not, do not bribe; nor let yourself be bribed. Do you want a world populated exclusively with selfish, greedy people? If not, be careful that you do not display selfishness nor greed.
The caring gets top priority, as we know from a study of the Existential Logical Hierarchy of Value. Next, the results that are likely to follow from a specific conduct are important to consider. The least priority is to be given to systemic matters, while not neglecting them entirely. We need all three, the In-values, the E-values, and the S-values. On the Hierarchy (the spectrum) they go from most meaningful to least.
I > E > S.
And, since to be meaningful is to be valuable, the In-values, the care-giving values, are also the most valuable. If one wants to maximize the value or the quality in one’s life, one would give the most consideration to those values.
Your comments and wise observations?