Is It Too Old-Fashioned to Be Ethical?

Today I will take you down memory lane. Specifically, a meeting with the superintendent and an assignment I have never forgotten.

The superintendent didn’t have any details or parameters for this project, only a simple directive: “We need an ethics course.”

I returned to my desk and took the next logical step: I researched ethics programs in education and across organizations, employee roles, and responsibilities. The internet did not disappoint. I found plenty of books, consultants, and guarantees promising to ensure ethical behavior.

Before I could even consider writing a required course for every employee, I wanted to understand something more fundamental. “What does ethics look like, and do ethical individuals share common characteristics?”

Flash forward to 2026. I often wonder if we still value ethical behavior.

What did I find 15 years ago, and does any of it apply to now?

My research trail back then led me to Bruce Weinstein, The Ethics Guy^®, and his book, Ethical Intelligence: Five Simple Rules for Leading a Better Life. His approach made an esoteric topic practical and concrete. I don’t know what happened to any of that work after I left, but I haven’t forgotten what I learned.

I won’t give you the lecture, but if you want a more detailed overview of Weinstein’s approach, jump on over here to delve a little deeper into the five simple rules for living an ethical life.

To whet your appetite, I offer you Weinstein’s one-pager for a relatively complex subject:

So this is what ethical intelligence comes down to.

When considering a course of action, ask yourself:

Will this avoid causing harm?

Will it make things better?

Is it respectful?

Is it fair?

Is it a loving thing to do?

If you can answer yes to each of these questions, it’s an ethically intelligent thing to do.

If you can’t, what other course of action will allow you to do so?

How could we show up in the world, our community, our family, and for ourselves if we chose to ask these questions? I believe in all five, but number five cuts across them all.