
09/05/2025
This quote by Potter Stewart, "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do," highlights a crucial distinction in ethical thought."What you have a right to do" refers to actions that are legally permissible or fall within your established freedoms and entitlements. These are actions you can do without facing legal repercussions or infringing on others' basic rights."What is right to do" delves into the moral dimension. This refers to actions that are just, fair, morally commendable, or align with a sense of responsibility and integrity, even if they are not legally mandated.The quote suggests that merely adhering to what is legally permissible or within one's rights is not sufficient for ethical behavior. True ethics requires a deeper consideration of the moral implications and impact of one's actions, and often involves choosing a course of action that is morally superior, even if one technically has the "right" to do something less scrupulous.