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American Literature
30 April 2017
Rules To Live By
Rules are what set up the law for people to obey. Those rules comply to a more ethical
world, where people cant do anything violating a humans natural right. Ethics is the moral of
thinking what is right or wrong. Without rules, people would go crazy probably doing the most
obscure things. With my new 10 rules to live by, the rules would bring more justice in the world
leading to calmer and polite society. Justice is where all things are right where people do the
right actions at the most reasonable ways to solve actions. Unlike the rules that people need to
obey, these 10 rules are more common sense that arent on any law book to say that people
should follow, but should be followed for the better. These 10 rules follow a more virtue
framework, which these rules will make you look like a better person to society.
The very first rule is: Do no harm. This rule simply means not to hurt anyone physically
or mentally. This rule does not mean do no harm when someone is assaulting you, but it means
to not intentionally start a fight or harm. From an excerpt on justice, a principle of morality,
states Im free only when my will is determined autonomously (Sandel 21-22). This means
that a person is truly ethic when he/she does a certain good deed because he/she wants to, not
because the law said to. With this rule, you do no harm because your intentions are not to do
harm, not because the law says so. This reflects on the virtue frameworks because this rule will
keep away from any fights. This rule is to stay positive and to never take the negative attitude on
anyone. Usually when someone is mad at something, that person will make the worst decisions
of their lives and eventually regret those decisions. With this rule, people wouldnt be furious on
anyone. It is okay to be mad at something or someone, but it is never okay to take the frustration
out on someone, as it also may break the first rule. On the framework paper, it states it believes
that all of ones experiences, emotions, and thoughts can influence the development of ones
character (Brown University 37-39). This means that all actions or thinking on your character
will lead up to what your character looks like. So, if one stays positive, people will look at that as
the person being a happy person that is never angry at anyone. Positivity will also lead to better
decisions when talking to someone or doing anything making ones character look better.
This next rule is more on a consequentialist framework, but still fits in the virtue
framework. This rule is to think before you act. This rule will ensure that the best possible
outcome is chosen. It will ensure that no bad decisions are made. The rule is more of a deeper
part in making better decisions, because one can stay positive but still make a bad decision. Even
though this is more consequential, the rule belongs into the virtue as well, because it ensures that
you dont look like a person you dont want people seeing you as. The consequential framework
states, The person using the Consequences framework desires to produce the most good
(Brown University 4). The virtue framework takes into account of what the person wants to build
his/her character. Most of the time, the most good will be the best decision to ensure that ones
Rule number four is: Do not lie, even if it is the benefit for others. This will make sure one is not
a lier and harm anyone else. For example, if one knew that a friends loved one is cheating on
him/her, you would want to tell your friend and not lie. It may hurt them, but it will benefit them
in the long run. This rule will not lead into distrust as well. In the moral principle of justice,
What matters is the motive (Brown University 11-12). This means that as long as you intend to
help them or not lie, then ones moral ethics is supreme. This rule belongs in the virtue
framework because ones intention is to help someone and be honest makes ones character more
ethical.
Rule number 5 is to always have a nice way to say something, if you have nothing nice to
say, dont say anything. This rule will make you look like a nicer person following the virtue
framework. Having a nice way to say something makes anyone not look like a jerk. Again, the
virtue framework states, ones experiences, emotions, and thoughts can influence the
development of ones character (Brown University 38). Having something nice to say makes
Rule number 6 states to have sympathy. Having sympathy shows that you can understand
what one is going through and what one has to deal with. It is a certain sorrow that lets other
people know you are understanding. This is a natural duty, according to what we owe people,
Natural duties are universal. We owe them to persons as rational beings (Sandel 3). This
means that we owe that person a bit of sorrow because we can understand how he/she is feeling.
Not following this rule, can show ones character as a mean person that can not understand what
other people feel. Following this rule builds up ones character to be a caring person.
The seventh rule is to do it for your team. This means to do certain ethical actions for the
better of others. Following this rule can ensure that ones character is not selfish; however, this
rule does not mean to get in trouble, get hurt, or harm someone else for the entertainment of your
friends or family. In the virtue framework chart, the question What kind of person should I be
(or try to be), asd what will my actions show about my character (Brown University 49), can be
solved with this rule. To be a selfish person that does anything to benefit himself? Or to be
someone that helps others? This rule helps that one character is more selfless than selfish.
The eighth rule is more of a light rule, that is to never interrupt someone. The only reason
to interrupt someone is to if the message is urgent. On the virtue framework sheet, this
framework is useful in situations that ask what sort of person one should be (Brown University
34). The person this rule is trying to create is more of a polite person that respects someone when
they are talking. This can show you as a person that has been taught well not to interrupt and a
This ninth rule is more of a broad, general rule. The rule is to be respectful to others at all
times. This rule does not apply, when the person is being totally disrespectful. This rule is a
natural duty to all people. A natural duty is they include the duty to treat persons with respect
(Sandel 3-4). This means that it is a natural duty to treat people with respect and is more
common sense. If you want to be treated with respect, then show respect. With a respectful
character, others will treat you with respect as well, as long as this rule is being applied.
The last and final rule that everyone should obey is to have proper manners. This rule is
above beyond the virtue rule where one wants to look proper. Without this rule, ones character
will look like a disgusting slob, to a certain extent. This rule also belongs into the obligations of
solidarity saying, they involve moral responsibilities we owe (Sandel 32-33). Meaning that this
rule is more of being the right responsibility that we owe to be people. Having proper manners
show that ones character is polite and respectable, building on with other rules.
I developed this list with the intention of making rules that makes a good person
Obviously my way of comprehending the rules is towards the virtue framework on how to look
like a good person. Some revisions I had to make was on certain rules that either contradicted
some rules or were too similar to other rules. For example, one of the former rules were to be
polite. This rule was way to similar to being respectful, so I replaced it with have proper
manners. Some rules I just added on to the rules to make it more detailed and understandable.
If I lived up to these rules ever since I was young, then I would be the most respectable
person anyone has ever seen. Like, they would think something is deeply wrong with me since I
would not show anger or too happy. I would not have made a lot of bad decisions and probably
had a better life, but no one is perfect and sometimes rules are broken unintendedly. If everyone
was to live by these rules, then there would not be so much violence or hatred in the world.
History would have to rewrite itself if everyone was to follow the rules. Everyone would