An Ethical Dilemma

Ethics provide us with some unique challenges at times. They challenge us to explore our own moral code.

Now before I continue, I am no saint. Far from it and I have my times where I go against my own moral code for a bit of convenience or self gratification.

The Oxford Dictionary describes ethics as “Moral principles that govern a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity.”

Societies tend to operate on collective ethics that may or may not be enshrined in law. A simple ethic may be to “honour your word when you make an agreement with someone”. A commonly stated medical ethic is enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath (the oath taken by every doctor), “First, do no harm”.

As we move forward, many things are finding their way into our collective catalogue of agreed to ethics. One for example is that we do not litter and choose to use the receptacles provided. Another is that we choose not to drink alcohol if we are driving. There was a point when the latter was more about a fear of being court, but I am inclined to believe that most people refrain from consuming alcohol when they are driving simply because that is the right thing to do.

So here I was last year, faced with an ethical dilemma. It was such an interesting moment. I have a printer that ceased working. I tried everything I could to get it working but kept getting the same error. I liked the printer a lot. It had cost me all of about $120.00 and I had been using it for a couple of years.

I took the printer to a repair centre and they took a look at it and told me what they thought was wrong and gave me an estimate of the cost of repair. It was going to be nearly $200. The day before, I was in Officeworks and saw similar printers going out the door for $89. So here I was, facing the question.

“Do I get it fixed or do I throw it in the Garbage?”

I stopped for a long time and thought about the $111 difference. What could I use that $111 for? I could buy extra ink cartridges for one thing plus a few other odds and ends for my office. I feel compelled to admit to being a bit of a lover of shopping in Office stores. Probably an old imprint from the excitement of getting new “stuff” before school starting back all those years ago.

But then I thought about my environmental concerns and the reality of hard waste. Could I comfortably commit this printer to landfill when, with a relatively small spend, it could continue its life in my office. I had to weigh up the financial cost with the environmental cost.

I could make this all dramatic and say, “I struggled with my decision!!!” I didn’t really. It was easy in the end. I gave the guy the go ahead and the printer was fixed. I spent the $200 but I did feel good about myself. If I had taken the other decision, I think it would have nagged at me. So I feel good.

The same sorts of decisions confront us day after day if we really open our eyes and look. Consider the following:

• Is all that packaging on the packet of cereal really necessary? There are now stores popping up where you can take your jar with you and fill up right there, with all sorts of produce.
• Do I need the car today to go to work, or could I jump on the train?
• Do I buy the cage eggs because they are a little cheaper, or locate the genuinely free range variety?
• Do I pop the party drug because it is fun, or do I decide to not spend money with people selling products that destroy lives and families?

Life does present us with some interesting challenges.

Now shall I print this out, or just post it online? Hmmmm!!