Enliven a discussion, or start a new one, by reflecting on what it takes to make an ethical decision. Click here to purchase the professionally designed and printed version of the Josephson Institute s best-selling primer, Making Ethical Decisions.
M aking consistently ethical decisions is difficult.
Most decisions have to be made in the context of economic, professional and social pressures which can sometimes challenge our ethical goals and conceal or confuse the moral issues. In addition, making ethical choices is complex because in many situations there are a multitude of competing interests and values. Other times, crucial facts are unknown or ambiguous. Since many actions are likely to benefit some people at the expense of others, the decision maker must prioritize competing moral claims and must be proficient at predicting the likely consequences of various choices. An ethical person often chooses to do more than the law requires and less than the law allows.