The final assignment of the year for ERH 207W- Ethics, was to write a paper that synthesized the conclusions of the last three papers that had been assigned, into an overarching ethical belief system that could be applied to every aspect of life. This was pretty overwhelming, as I have enough difficulty deciding how to deal with ethical problems in my own day to day life, when you would think it would be a bit more intuitive. So to analyze my jumbled writings and try and put into concise words what my life’s ethical principles are is a daunting task indeed. However I’ll do my best.

The papers that I’ll be trying to build a skeleton of an ethical perspective out of are little more than skeletons themselves, but they have some ideas in their bones that could be put to use to build something bigger, particularly Essay Three, about happiness. The hedonist approach to life offers more than its given credit for as an ethical system that can be deep, and rewarding spiritually.

My essay on suicide made the point that suicide can be justified. This seems a bit specific to fit into a broader overall ethical worldview, but I think it shows that you’re very responsible for yourself, and while other’s happiness matter, taking care of yourself has to be a priority.