The Power of Ethics: The Art of Making the Right Choices in Our Complex World

In today’s world, many companies put profit above people’s health and safety; technologies create risks for society—with minimal consequences for those who are supposed to be responsible. In our private lives, we wonder how to ensure the confidentiality of data on the internet and protect children from unwanted information, how to choose what to buy—and from whom—how to respond to injustice we witness at home and at work. Susan Liota, an ethics professor at Stanford University, explores some of the most complex ethical dilemmas of today, explains a four-step decision-making process, and also describes six forces that drive nearly every ethical choice.

“Ethics is a part of every life decision and lifelong learning—from preschool and primary school to higher education, workplace training, and professional development. Ethical competence doesn’t depend on academic degrees, areas of specialization, or socio-economic circumstances… We can make choices that give hope, and everything we need to do so is close by, within arm’s reach. Your story, and the story of everyone whose lives you touch—like the story of humanity as a whole—depends on your choices.”

Susan Liota