How Ethics Can Help You Make Better Decisions | Michael Schur | TED
The Journey from Comedy to Ethics
Introduction to the Speaker's Background
- The speaker has been a television comedy writer for nearly 25 years, focusing on sketches, animated shows, and sitcoms.
- Over the last decade, their passion has shifted towards studying ethics, humorously noting the contrast between Hollywood allure and philosophical inquiry.
Personal Anecdote: A Turning Point in Ethics
- In 2005, an incident involving a minor car accident led to a significant ethical dilemma for the speaker and their wife.
- After a minor bump with another vehicle during Hurricane Katrina, they received a demand for $836 in damages despite no visible harm.
Escalation of Events
- The speaker attempted to convince the other party that their concern was trivial compared to larger issues like Hurricane Katrina.
- They proposed donating $836 to charity if the other party agreed not to file an insurance claim, which unexpectedly escalated into pledges totaling over $25,000 from friends across the country.
Realization of Ethical Missteps
- As excitement grew around this plan, both the speaker and their wife began feeling uneasy about their actions.
- They recognized that while they dismissed material concerns as unimportant, it was wrong to impose that view on someone else who cared about them.
Philosophical Exploration
- This internal conflict prompted the speaker to seek understanding through philosophy; they reached out to philosophy professors for discussions.
- Through these conversations, they learned valuable ethical theories that aid in making better decisions and becoming better individuals.
Key Philosophical Insights
- Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative emphasizes creating universal rules for actions; questioning whether one can justify using unrelated global issues in personal negotiations.
- Kant also advocates treating people as ends in themselves rather than means to an end—highlighting how the speaker’s initial approach violated this principle.
Understanding Moral Philosophy Through Personal Experience
The Impact of Utilitarianism
- The speaker reflects on their initial misunderstanding of moral philosophy until they encountered utilitarianism, which emphasizes the importance of outcomes in ethical decision-making.
- Utilitarianism, as articulated by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, focuses on maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering; the speaker feels justified in causing some pain for a greater good.
- However, the speaker acknowledges that societal awareness of their actions could lead to widespread fear and sadness, potentially outweighing the happiness created.
Philosophical Dilemmas and Personal Accountability
- The speaker humorously notes that when all great philosophers seem to disapprove of one's actions, it indicates a significant error in judgment.
- After apologizing to an individual affected by their actions and sharing the outcome publicly, most responses were positive; this led to substantial donations for hurricane relief efforts.
Preparing for Ethical Challenges
- The speaker compares preparing for moral dilemmas to preparing for trivia games or sports events; while unlikely to face such situations frequently, one will inevitably encounter complex ethical challenges.
- Reading ethical theories is essential for navigating these dilemmas effectively; understanding them can improve decision-making even if success isn't guaranteed.
Increasing Odds of Success in Ethical Decision-Making
- Preparation through studying ethics enhances one's ability to handle moral complexities better than without preparation; it increases chances of making sound decisions amidst pressure.