Quick Rule Of Thumb

 

I am an advocate of ethical egoism and moderation if thought, word, and deed, but there is a 2ndary (a quick, rule of thumb moral standard) moral tool I apply to measure if an action is appropriate to do or not, and I do not think this practical rule conflicts with my primary ethical system.

 

Natural suffering is something we can do little about, and we just try to get through it, and we are not responsible for.

 

Unnecessary suffering is what evil is, when we deliberately choose to hurt others or ourselves: these cruel, destructive acts are not only hurtful, but they deeply anger and offend the good deities, and we need and want them on our side.

 

Here is my sensible moral rule: Is how I act, and how we interact, bringing healthy pleasure and happiness to ourselves and others, or are we inflicting and introducing unnecessary pain, suffering and unhappiness to ourselves and others?

 

If doing something increases unnatural, human suffering, and we know that in advance, then we must choose not to act that way.

 

If doing something increases unnatural but uplifting (fabricated by human action) pleasure or happiness and joy in the world, that is the action we should accept.

 

In short, if we are causing pain, we cease that action. If we are making lives better for others or ourselves, that is the route to take.