Ethics as Habits:
Ethical modes of thinking, whether positive or negative, are mental habits. Mental habits die hard, even if one becomes aware of them and attempts to change them. If one’s parents were hypercritical, then a voice in one’s mind continues criticizing oneself for perceived flaws.
Few habits are more difficult to overcome than unethical mental habits. Unethical modes of thinking are humans’ default settings -- they are natural side-effects of thought processes. For instance, the thought process of imagination allows one to picture a better reality but thus causes yearning, and the process of association allows people to simplify information and group entities but leads to prejudice and assumption. The evolutionary reasons for each unethical behavior is explained in the corresponding ethics section.
Though changing habits is difficult, all habits can change. One can overcome selfish, reckless, or close-minded habits. People can learn from mistakes, get good advice, or work to self-improve.
Growing more ethical is rarely as simple as changing one’s mind regarding certain principles. It takes time and effort to become less selfish, reckless, or close-minded. These traits are tied up in emotional reactions and patterns of thought. One must consciously analyze thought processes, honestly recognize flaws, and work to overcome ingrained impulses.
When one succeeds, the rewards are great. Ethics free one to choose between confusion and wonder, patience and impatience, contentment and dissatisfaction, etc. My hope is that the ethical explanations make each of these choices as easy as possible.
Although this model lays out ethics simply, decision-making is anything but. Decisions are already far too complex without bringing in standard ethical concerns. But by preemptively understanding the fundamental ethics of any situation, one can avoid any mental roadblocks and make the best possible decision given one’s information. One can focus not on which meta-behavior is correct but on which specific action is correct.
Ethics help accomplish all tasks; here is a list of a some common tasks:
Paying attention, learning, intaking information (Information)
Critical thinking & rationality, dispassionate analysis, discerning truth (Rationality)
Connecting with others, organization, simplification, making associations (Organization)
Creativity, cleverness, specific skills, general ability to solve problems and complete tasks (Ability)
Exerting willpower / self-control / laboring, moralizing, behaving responsibly, attaining happiness / enthusiasm / energy (Happiness)