In the sphere of ethics, by contrast, one thinks…

In the sphere of ethics, by contrast, one thinks of oneself in terms of roles. Thinking of oneself as the occupant of a role requires the capacity to step outside of one's skin and one's quotidian interac-tions, so to speak, and instead to conceptualize oneself as a Worker and as a Citizen.

— from True North (Ethics, Integrity, Truth, Values) · Truth, Beauty and Goodness Reframed: Educating for the Virtues in the Age of Truthiness an

In the book

The real test of ethics is responsibility taken independent of your own stake in the outcome — being not just a good neighbor but a good worker and a good citizen. There's a real distinction worth keeping: morality is the neighborhood virtue, how you treat the people right in front of you by virtue of your shared humanity; ethics is the wider, more abstract demand of a complex society, where you must be able to step outside your own skin and think of yourself in a role — as a Worker, as a Citizen — and act well in it. The practical core stays simple, though: cultivate a steady awareness of your relationships and then act on the obligations they carry. — True North (Ethics, Integrity, Truth, Values)

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