I love those blog entries that list little teasers connected to links. It’s a sort of internet buffet, a little of this and a little of that. This one has some fun teasers and interesting ideas.
James Pilant
via A Thinking Reed
Tag: ethics
The Agenda Shaping Our Worldview (via It Could Be Simpler)
The idea of a “comforting illusion” is one you can easily think of when confronted by the apathy of so many. Myself I’ve studied the mortgage crisis (more like crimes) and have seen how little it bothered so many that this was going on. So many people still say, “They made a contract, they owe the money, things didn’t work out, they should pay up or get out of the houses.”
No one seems to care whether the original contract was fair, laden with fraud, or sold to those least able to understand what they were signing.
I see a lot of comforting illusions. I don’t like them. This fellow doesn’t either.
James Pilant
My thanks to “It Could Be Simpler.”
Do No Harm — my UU sermon from May 1, 2010 (via Ironicschmoozer’s Weblog)
In the last three generations of my family, there have been a good number of ministers. Of course, my family were Free Will Baptists and not Unitarians. (There is a lot more certainty in the sermons of the Baptists.)
I don’t attend church much anymore but I still like sermons. This gentleman has put one of his up as a post. It’s well written, choppy tight paragraphs, messages that seem to go in different directions but tie up like little bows into the big message by the end, and a couple of good personal stories to round it out.
I like what he has to say, I believe in ethics and morality. In the field of doing the right thing, the best move is often to do nothing at all, thus, do no harm. It’s a good topic.
James Pilant
Lost in the Stacks 4: Writers and Readers (via The Labyrinth Library)
Some days, I do not want to write. I want to do anything but write. My mind says, “Please James, let’s watch a movie, go shopping, have a nap, anything that isn’t typing into that machine.”
I still drag myself to that online beast and write once again. You cannot not post. Your readers will leave, not all of them, but some. And I prize every reader I have. They are like gold coins to a miser. I remember all too well getting 35 hits for the entire month I began posting.
My readers are supportive and kind. Their comments enrich my thought and change how and what I write about.
I am greedy for more readers but I don’t want as much encouragement as the picture and caption indicate!
James Pilant
Marketing as a Four-Letter Word_ Round 2 (via Heretical Thoughts of an Archivist)
Any time I see someone talk like this, I feel a certain pride in the tenacity of the human spirit to refuse to conform to the culture of greed, conformity and that abomination, “emotional intelligence.”
I think this post represents a high standard of morality compared to much of the marketing I see. I am pleased to re-post this work.
James Pilant
Urban permaculture (via Only Ed)
Permaculture is a relative recent concept (1960’s) but it has developed nicely in concert with our increasing curiosity into the advantages of living with nature as opposed to being in conflict with it.
This post offers some links to other sites with more information. If permaculture is something you have heard about or are curious about interesting concepts, this is an excellent starting point.
James Pilant
via Only Ed
Cross Stitches (via Achilles & Aristotle)
Here we are talking about Montaigne again! (I discussed another Montaigne blog post a week or so ago.) There is always an undercurrent of classicism in the United States. I have been a fan of Mortimer J. Adler and the Great Books project since I was 14 and read his masterpiece, How to Read a Book. Years later when the book was put in the discards, I bought it for a few cents and it is still a part of my library.
I like and appreciate this kind of talk, this kind of reading. Once these deep waters are explored, a person’s thoughts are never quite the same. I remember Adler talked about this and he said that after you have read great books you never need to fear boredom when you are alone. I think that’s true.
This fellow writes intelligent essays. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
James Pilant
on walking the walk. (via bee thousand)
How much to give? And who to give it to?
The eternal questions of those fortunate to have enough resources to give.
Here is a good discussion of a person trying to make the right charitable choices.
(In the United States, not getting your money diverted to private pockets when giving is very difficult. Scam artists masquerade under the sweetest and most persuasive names. They love names like veteran, children, etc. Be very careful who you give your money to and remember, the most important factor is what proportion of the charity’s contributions actually go to the charitable purpose. If you can’t find that out after a few minute web search, you are better off buying lottery tickets. In both cases your money is lost, but with the lottery, you know up front that your money is gone for no purpose.)
James Pilant
Special thanks to bee thousand.
via bee thousand
Reap the Whirlwind (via Sects and Violence in the Ancient World)
Fantastic. Exactly. Disasters are not harbingers of the Apocalypse, the are (usually) natural phenomenon. What do they demand of us – that we act in a spirit of brotherhood, with compassion.
It is incredible that people who are taken seriously in some quarters consider compassion as a negative, a damaging idea that handicaps the intelligent and entrepreneurial.
But compassion is not a negative, it is one of the basic pillars of a civilized society. Civilization is propelled by cooperation and due consideration for the status of others.
Let us do what we can.
I recommend you look at some of the other writing on this web site, Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
James Pilant
Ethics vs Modern Economic Realities (via thenewgoodlife)
I would like to have a try at answering the question posed by the author of this post.
It seems to me that a great many of the population are in your position – unable to have a full range of choices in where they buy things. There are many choices in where to buy goods and many of those businesses do things that are immoral or unethical. We would prefer to shop elsewhere.
When a firm is unethical or immoral, it often develops a competitive advantage that makes its products cheaper, in many cases much cheaper.
And I don’t think you have to think very hard before you can think of one of the worst offenders.
If you are in a poor economic situation, buy where you can. There is no point in damaging your health or your family.
Ethics requires action but all choices are never available to us.
So, when one avenue of action is denied us, we seek others. Here we have regulatory agencies, representative government and public advocacy. There is also investigative journalism but this is denied most of the public.
Your most likely remaining options are encouraging awareness by blogging, etc.
I don’t want to try to explain in any detail what you will want to decide yourself, which is what’s your best options?
There are many places where total ethics are impossible by one reason or another, you can still fight the good fight.
We do what we can.
James Pilant
via thenewgoodlife
Pilant's Business Ethics Blog 
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