I Believe A Code Of Ethics Essay

I Believe: A Code Of Ethics Essay, Research Paper

I Believe: A Code of Ethics

by

PHIL 301

Fall Semester, 1996

I believe in the power of Mind…

I believe pitchers should bat…

I believe Oswald was a patsy…

I believe everything is a conspiracy…

I believe that people are responsible for their own actions…

I believe that The Who is the greatest rock band of all time…

I believe in tolerance…

I believe in capitalism…

I believe we are who we want to be…

I believe in choice…

I believe in love…

I believe that Bert and Ernie are televisions first gay couple…

I believe that the 1979 Orioles were robbed…

I believe that people who say they like Indian food are just trying

to be cool…

I believe that people get the kind of government they deserve…

I believe in the power of having no god…

I believe I can fly…

I believe that Barney is the purple Messiah…

I believe that the bible was a novel, written for profit…

I believe in the mother ship…

I believe the Mona Lisa was framed…

I believe in Pez…

I believe Darwin…

I believe in beauty…

I believe we have the worst justice system in the world with the

exception of every other system…

I believe in Wally and the Beaver…

I believe I didn’t learn anything in kindergarten…

I believe we are all in this together…

I believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day…

I believe the ozone layer is just fine…

I believe in dedication…

I believe my daughter is a prodigy…

I believe that Kathy Lee is the Anti-Christ…

I believe my dad can still beat me at arm wrestling…

I believe I wouldn’t want to beat him…

I believe you shouldn’t believe everything you breath…

I believe in the power of love to warp mens minds and make men

great…

I believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the seventh inning

stretch…

I believe in me…

I believe I’m done now…

Developing a code of ethics is the most important thing a person can do.

Such a code is necessary for humans because of our capacity to reason. Our

ability to apply rational thought to the conduct of our lives is what makes

mankind more than just an animal with an interesting thumb. These rational

thoughts could very easily lead us to terrible acts, for what is in our best

interest is often harmful to others. However there is another ability, peculiar

to humans alone, that keeps most of us on the right path. Our ability to know

what is right and what is wrong. It is our beliefs on this subject that make

up our ethics. And the best way to know what those beliefs are is to develop a

personal code of ethics.

My own code is one that defies definition by the standards of most of

the well known ethical theories. It consists of four simple and straight

forward rules, rules that do not alter or change with the shift of societies

values or the passing of time. The four rules are easy to remember but may need

a bit of explanation.

1) Mine first.

2) Serve the greater good (unless it violates rule number one).

3) Serve justice and obey the law unless the law does not serve

justice.

4) Respect the divinity of Mind.

The first rule, “Mine first” sounds harsh and egoist and to some extent

it is akin to enlightened egoism. What this rule means is that my wife and

daughter and what is best for them comes before any other consideration without

exception. This dedication to family is not a popular idea in these “it takes a

village” times. Today, people seem to have bought into the idea that there will

always be someone else around to take care of our responsibilities if we fail.

The government, charities or strangers on the street, many people today feel

that their responsibilities are those of someone else as well. But there is no

room for such ideas in my life. I do for mine. If that means that others must

do without so that my family can prosper, than that is how it must be.

Example: Suppose my daughter wanted a Tickle Me Elmo Doll this Christmas.

And suppose I found myself at the door to Toys-R-Us, next to a wheelchair bound

woman who was also trying to purchase an Elmo for her child. The two of us know

that there is one Elmo left in the store. When the door opens, what do I do.

To be perfectly honest I run as fast as I can and grab the doll. It would not

matter to me that the woman was in a wheelchair and unable to race for the doll.

My daughter wanted the doll and I would put her wishes above anyone else.

Of course, this is a silly example but it illustrates how this rule

works. The action would be the same if it were the last morsel of food in the

last remaining open store in a city buried in ten feet of snow. I do what is

best for my family even at the cost of others. I do n

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