Consideration of Ethics in Systemic Thinking

This paper probes the relationship between systemic thinking and ethics. A distinction is made between systemic thinking and systems thinking to illustrate debates around the ethical issues of tackling societal issues in a systemic way. Drawing on three prominent ethical theories, namely utilitarianism, deontological theory and virtue ethics, the argument that systemic thinking should embrace ethics is developed. This article suggests that systemic thinking fosters the virtue of toleration; defends the autonomous human right; and promotes good for the people in an equitable fashion.

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