Automated Ethics

Kristin, this is thoughtful, thorough, first-class, and earns full credit.  In a "nutshell," you conclude that we cannot put ethics on "automatic pilot" and mechanically go about making decisions.  As your humble servant has pointed out, we are not machines, although our technological society treats us as machines far too often.  We are not programmed like plants, animals.  We are capable of making choices; honest living, as you point out, requires us to contemplate, reflect on these choices as we mature, learn, and situations change, for the better or for the worse.  In short, as you point out, we cannot "automate" ethics.  Amen.  Agreed.  Dr. Rux