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The Western Canon Mailing List
Moderator: Paul John Barnette Jr.
Activation Date: March 8, 1997
Current Date:  August 15, 1997
Current Membership: 100
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Response to Western Canon #063

What is more important?  Maintaining a strict ethical policy or 
obtaining an end that is fair and justifiable to all parties 
involved?  Does form over substance dictate?  Or vice versa?

I believe strict ethical standards that cannot be altered to fit the 
current situation is a narrow view of life.  Such standards only 
exist in academia and obscure goverment think-tanks.  Ethical 
standards should be a general framework for decision-making and the 
basis for analysis.  However, every situation must be individually 
analyzed. 

As an example, what if your wife is dying, and you are taking her to 
the hospital.  Do you follow the speed limit and risk her dying in 
the car, or do you exceed the speed limit for the better good of 
saving your wife's life?

The choice is obvious.  

Stephen H. Byrd

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