Global Ethics Corner: Obama and Ethics

Mar 27, 2009

Can public discussion of issues acknowledge gray areas despite being polarized by the media and single issue groups?

Will it work: a president talking about the gray areas around decisions, about uncertainty?

Recently, President Obama explicitly talked about ethics regarding stem cells, and ethics were implicit in his "turning a big ocean liner" discussion of economics. "I'm a big believer in persistence... I think, hopefully, people will judge that body of work..."

The media, to sell, posit ethical issues as obvious choices: "greedy vs. selfless," "invest today vs. mortgage your children's future."

Single issue groups, to rally supporters and demonize opponents, need to narrow debates to "yes or no."

Hence, practical politics and ethics become opposite ends of a field.

Pragmatism becomes the Machiavellian position that ethics is just tactical political choice.

Ethics becomes the polar position that values are unattached, higher callings.

But, they are not polar. The struggle occurs over long periods, in the center of the field, in the gray areas between the obvious.

What do you think? Can public discussion of issues include uncertainty and doubt; acknowledge gray areas while turning the ship? What about the pull of media and interests? Is everything polar?

By William Vocke

To post a comment, go to the Global Ethics Corner slideshow.

You may also like

U.S. Army M1A2 Abrams tanks

FEB 6, 2023 Article

Ethics, Escalation, and Engagement in Ukraine and Beyond

Now that HIMAR and Patriot missiles as well as Leopard and Abrams tanks are on the way to Ukraine, NATO unity is at a high ...

Left to right: Zhanna Malekos Smith, Mai'a Cross, Diane Howard, Ann C Thresher. CREDIT: Noha Mahmoud.

APR 4, 2025 Video

Unlocking Cooperation: Space Diplomacy

In this event, Northeastern University’s Ethics Institute partnered with Carnegie Council to host a convening on the future of international space governance, security, & sustainability.

MAR 18, 2025 Podcast

Small States, Mutual Respect, and the Future of the International System, with Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed

Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed, permanent representative of the Maldives to the UN, discusses the vital role of small states at this critical global moment.

Not translated

This content has not yet been translated into your language. You can request a translation by clicking the button below.

Request Translation