The Noble Edge: Reclaiming an Ethical World One Choice at a Time

In this engaging work, speaker and ethics consultant Gilbert (There’s No Right Way to Do the Wrong Thing) takes readers on a digestible journey through morality, law, and ethics. Gilbert highlights the pitfalls of relying on ethical “isms”—subjectivism, relativism, consequentialism, virtuism, and universalism—illustrating his points through dilemmas faced by an imaginary choice maker and stories about his own business challenges. Ultimately, he guides readers to climb the ladder to “Moral Progressivism,” an ethical framework which widens the circle of concern to everyone “through lenses of ever-increasing empathy, love and compassion.” Unfortunately, Gilbert leans too glibly into unexamined assumptions that everyone knows certain actions, such as stealing and cheating, are universally wrong. Though Gilbert briefly mentions challenging topics like abortion, stem-cell research, and same-sex marriage, he gives little guidance on how to address these potentially ethical dilemmas. In the end, Gilbert believes moral standards—centered on mutual trust—are universal, that humanity is on a path toward moral progress, and society can create a world “that treat[s] everyone with equity and justice at all times.” Those concerned with the ethical weight of choices small and large will find much to ponder here. (Aug.)