“Society” is a fiction, a conceptual abstraction. Approach a living, conscious human being; ask him/her what he thinks about some current event or current policy. Listen. Then share your analysis of the topic with him/her. Gain concurrence on what the Ethical applications to this would be. Find some common ground. Agree on a plan of action to improve the policy or situation.
There is nothing wrong with an individual thinking of #1 (one’s own enhancement) as long as s/he is aware that s/he is a member of a species that needs to cooperate on shared worthwhile goals, and s/he is willing and ready to do so - for the mutual benefit that will result. The science of Ethics teaches the precise value to be gained in our engaging in win-win interactions. So let’s seek out noble goals and cooperate on achieving them efficiently and effectively.
The book cited in the first post above explains the difference between those two concepts: “efficiency” and “effectiveness.” It reports on many of the findings of the new science of Ethics, a discipline which one day will take its place of equal status alongside the science of Physics.
Comments? Book reviews? Questions?