🔄wise365: Ethical reasoning, sacred and profane, daily walks

Happy wise365 Tuesday!

Here are 3 ideas to consider this week…

1. Ethical Reasoning

The real power of ethical reasoning lies not in finding a perfect solution, but in providing a structured lens to evaluate our choices thoughtfully.

It can feel overwhelming to face choices with serious ethical implications. What is your default approach? Are you just guessing (hopefully not!)? Going with your gut feeling? Or are you using an ethical framework, such as Kantian ethics, consequentialism, or virtue ethics?

2. Sacred and profane

Giorgio Agamben defines profanation as restoring sacred or untouchable things to everyday use, reintegrating them into the public sphere and practical human activity.

To be sacred is to have been made holy through a connection to divinity or by religious ceremony.

In our secular daily existence, it's hard to fully grasp the extent to which, throughout much of human history, sacred things were an intimate part of human experience.

Is Weber right to criticize us for replacing the sacred with our bureaucratic and calculated systems?

3. Daily walks

Step away from tasks for 10 minutes and choose a manageable walking route. Set an intention, walk mindfully, and redirect wandering thoughts to your steps or breath. Afterward, reflect on how you feel and any insights gained. Repeat daily to enhance focus and well-being (from Habits and Productivity: Timeless Wisdom for Building Better Routines [forthcoming])

Taking a daily walk can instill a simple, repeatable practice that can enhance overall well-being. A good place to start if you’re struggling to build healthy habits.