Ethical Crisis

We all have to figure out an ethical code by which to live out lives.

Nobody can do it for us.

That means we have to determine our values, priorities, and sense of integrity for ourselves.

And that’s a lot of work!

That’s probably why we avoid thinking about it most of the time. We just “go with our gut” or play along with mainstream norms.

Until a crisis hits…

Suddenly, you find yourself in an impossible situation.

Interests conflict, and you’re worried that no matter what you do, someone is going to get hurt.

Mainstream advice seems shallow and can’t account for the complexity of the situation.

You try to go with your gut, but it’s anxiously turning summersaults and making you feel seasick. It changes its mind on a whim and is not dependable after all.

You try listening to your heart, but it cares about everyone involved and doesn’t know what to do.

If you’re going to ground your decisions in something stable, something you can rely on in the long run, you’ll have to find a new approach.

It doesn’t take you very long to realize…

… that you haven’t developed many good methods for thinking through ethical problems.

How do you weigh the issues at stake?

How do you figure out which factors to care about most?

What do you owe the human beings and other living creatures in the situation?

What do you owe yourself?

Are there scenarios where you can’t just stand by and watch others self-destruct? Are there times you need to intervene?

What does it mean to treat others with respect and care? How do you preserve their autonomy and dignity?

And what does it mean to preserve your own integrity?

You know you want to “do the right thing.”

You want to “be a good person,” but you’re unclear about what that means.

You look around, but you might not have the best examples to draw on. In fact, your ethical dilemma might be about questionable actions taking place in your work, school, or sports group… or with your friends and family.

You feel lost. You simply don’t know your way around an ethical dilemma.

You feel like a stranger in your own life, wandering and confused… alienated.

You need to figure out what you are going to stand up for and why.

Philosophical counseling can help.

In philosophical counseling, we can talk through different ethical frameworks to help you to analyze which factors are most important.

We can look at the significant elements from different viewpoints, imagine possibilities, and assess the options open to you.

We can consider what it means to treat others and yourself with respect and care.

And we can talk about how you might define your values, priorities, and sense of integrity going forward.

There is no easy formula for what you should do…

In an ethical crisis, you will always be faced with uncertainty when making decisions.

But ethical analysis can put you in a much better position to weigh your options, define the principles that matter most to you, and make your choice.

Ethical analysis can ground your choices in reasons and commitments that you understand and that you can explain and defend to yourself and others. This puts you in a position of greater confidence to move forward.

Ready to transform confusion and angst into clarity and courage?

Reach out to schedule your free consultation call.