Duties

One of the enduring debates about ethics concerns whether there is one set of rules or principles, good for all situations and times, or whether, on the other hand, the rules vary from time and place, and from culture to culture. Given our modern sense of tolerance and acceptance of diversity, we may be comfortable with the idea that what is right or wrong can vary according to circumstances. For example, we accept that lying is wrong, but hold out the possibility that there are times or situations in which lying may be all right or even the best course of action. We all probably tell white lies from time to time, when giving someone a compliment or making excuses for why we can’t attend a friend’s dinner party. We feel it is almost obligatory to lie to enemies, in order to prevent their gaining an advantage over us. We expect and accept some shading of the truth in politics or the law courts. At times, we want our physicians to err on the side of optimism when giving us a prognosis of our own or a loved-one’s illness. Occasionally, people will puff up their qualifications on a resume they send out to prospective employers, perhaps calling their stint as a camp counselor in high school Youth Athletic Director.