Although both etiquette and ethics both deal with behavior, the two are very different. Etiquette refers to society's rules and laws that govern polite behavior, while ethics refer to the personal moral rules that govern an individual's behavior. (The dictionary actually said an "individual or group's behavior", but methinks that one shouldn't be part of a group that conflicts with, or contradicts one's personal code of ethics.)
In a perfect world, both etiquette and ethics would coexist in perfect harmony--and they often do. But I''ve met many unprincipled individuals who know which fork to use with a salad and vice versa. Enough to know that sometimes you have to choose. Do you run the risk of being rude to or offending someone to stay true to your own personal principles, or do stay true to societal rules and guidelines?
For me there is no choice. In the absence of a solution that would allow me to be polite and ethical, ethics will always win. It's easier to teach a person to chew with their mouth closed, than it is to teach them how to stand for something.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment