surreptitious75 got me to thinking and reflecting on the subject.
Perhaps the whole program can be summed up in 7 imperative words:
Be kind. Do no harm. Grow morally.
If one wants to write about Ethics, consider that the structure of it can be simplified into these three parts.
I) Being kind.
II) Doing no harm.
III) Growing morally.
The Golden Rule and its variants would be discussed in volume one. This guide to Ethical decision-making suggests that you treat others as you would want to be treated.
Upon each encounter or interaction with others, one is to ask oneself: How can I create value here and now so that each of us can be a winner!? Peter Demerest has titled this “The Central Question of Life.”
Also in that section would be an explanation of how kindness can be immoderate:overdone. Good manners, however, are always in style. In Oriental cultures people bow, nod their heads, as a sign of respect when encountering one another. It helps to hold the culture together.
This part of the book would also discuss in depth Humility; and Moral Courage (as exhibited by ‘whistle-blowers’ who want to keep their jobs but who are moved by their conscieence to expose wrong-doing and corruption.)
What it means in practice to avoid harming, and to avoid being offensive, would be the content of the second volume or subsection of the book.
And what are the good and wise Moral Principles to live by would be found in third part of the treatise. The more of these Principles with which an individual complies, the more he or she is growing morally.
These concepts mentioned above also comprise the New Paradigm for Ethics - and Hardcore Ethics.
Your views on any of this are welcome!