Introduction

Some years ago I became intrigued by the question "What is the Moral Compass?"

I believe that the question is vitally important because whilst ethical pundits advocate people abiding by ethical and moral values, they are equally reluctant to suggest just exactly what core ethical principles are! It's the same as arguing for universal Human Rights yet refusing to state what these Human Rights could be. Without clear fundamental principles everything is simply enculturation and moral relativism. It is necessary to define and codify Human Rights in order that people can act on them, and I believe that the same principle applies to ethics. Hence the project.

I believe that creating a clear codified list of core ethical principles as a Moral Compass would add structure to the entire ethical debate, provide a benchmark against which ethics could be measured, and be an antidote to moral relativism.