How Ethics Can Help You Make Better Decisions | Michael Schur | TED

Summary

Television writer Michael Schur explains how studying ethics can help people prepare for the difficult moral choices they inevitably face. He became interested in moral philosophy after mishandling a dispute over a minor car accident.

In 2005, Schur’s wife lightly bumped another car. The other driver later requested $836 to repair a fender. At the time, Schur was distressed by Hurricane Katrina’s devastation and felt the driver should prioritize the disaster over his car. He offered to donate the repair money to Katrina relief if the driver would drop the claim. Schur then publicized the offer and gathered more than $25,000 in pledges, while the driver remained unaware of the campaign.

As the effort grew, Schur and his wife felt that something about it was wrong. Schur recognized that he was dismissing the driver’s concern, applying moral pressure, and stirring up anger over a relatively small dispute. He consulted philosophy professors and considered the situation through several ethical frameworks:

• Kant’s categorical imperative: Before acting, ask whether the rule behind the action could reasonably be applied universally. Schur’s implied rule—that someone may bring an unrelated catastrophe into a negotiation to shame the other person—would make ordinary disagreements worse if everyone followed it.
• Treating people as ends in themselves: Kant also argues that people should not be used merely as tools to achieve one’s goals. Schur realized he was treating the driver as a means to raise money and advance his own sense of righteousness.
• Aristotle’s virtue ethics: Virtues such as generosity, courage, friendliness, and mildness should be practiced in the right measure—not too little and not too much. Schur concluded that he had shown excessive anger and insufficient friendliness.
• Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill’s approach assesses actions by their consequences, aiming to produce more happiness and less suffering. The donations would help people in need, but Schur also had to consider the distress inflicted on the driver and the broader harm of making people fear that they could be treated similarly. The overall consequences were therefore not obviously good.

Schur concluded that the ethical theories pointed against his conduct. He apologized to the driver, explained what had happened, and sent him a check for the repair. He also updated his blog and encouraged people to donate to Katrina relief regardless of the dispute. More than $25,000 was ultimately donated to the Red Cross.

Main lesson and practical takeaway

Schur argues that ethical theory is useful preparation for real-life moral dilemmas. Such dilemmas are often confusing, emotionally difficult, and lack a clear rule. Studying different approaches will not guarantee the right decision, but it can improve the chances of making one.

When facing a dilemma, his examples suggest asking:

• Could I accept this as a rule for everyone? Consider what would happen if others routinely acted the same way.
• Am I respecting the people involved as individuals? Avoid treating someone merely as a tool for achieving a goal.
• Am I showing the relevant virtues in the right measure? Consider whether emotions or qualities such as anger, generosity, or friendliness are excessive or deficient.
• What are the consequences for everyone affected? Weigh not only the immediate benefit, but also the pain, fear, and wider effects the action may create.
• Have I prepared to think through difficult choices? Like practicing for a demanding performance, learning ethical frameworks beforehand can help when a high-pressure dilemma arises.

Speakers and sources featured

• Michael Schur — the speaker; recounts his experience and explains the ethical theories.
• Immanuel Kant — cited for the categorical imperative and the principle of treating people as ends in themselves.
• Aristotle — cited for virtue ethics.
• Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill — cited as proponents of utilitarianism.
• Philosophy professors — consulted by Schur as he worked through the dilemma; none are individually identified.