The subject of ethics has been debated by ancient philosophers and continues to be debated today because, although ignored by many, it permeates the core of our interactions and is present in the choices we make and how those choices affect us. We might even say that ethics is the Greek counterpart to the study of the Indian concept of dharma, or the understanding of the relationship between causes, consciousness, and their effects. The study of ethics is not merely a study of morality, but an important advance in the direction of our own consciousness. The more we know about what makes us moral or immoral, the better our choices will be, and the closer we will be to a life of meaning and joy. There is no enlightenment without consciousness, and no higher consciousness without an understanding of ethics, which must follow an advance in the development of reason. Thus, the study of ethics is part of the path to becoming a more capable person in the many areas of life.
