Ethical companies

In reply to a PG, Heba asks if it’s possible to create an ethical tech company

This was an interesting question that popped up in reply to a PG post about the killing of 3 young kids in Gaza.

I am sure PG is baking a great essay or some deep thoughts on this topic but here are some immediate reactions that came immediately to mind as I read this interaction yesterday. Maybe a seed for an article at some point, but considering my track record, most likely not and this is its end stage.

Collection of thoughts:

• There are probably thousands of ethical companies but they don’t show up on your radar as much and if they do they might not align 100% with your view of the world or the ranking of what you consider priorities. (Oversimplified definition here: minimizing harm to any human in the short or long term)
  

• Having many simultaneous goals leads to suboptimal outcomes making ones that don’t adopt ethical goals grow and succeed more. (evolutionary)
  

• Google had the right idea in adopting the via negativa “do no evil” as avoiding to do evil is simpler than trying to be “good”.

  • With success comes power and most people would associate decisions they don’t like to evil.

  • Growth leads to a thirst for more growth and saying no to questionable clients/programs etc becomes harder.

  • Growth leads to consensus and conformity and consensus is sometimes on the side of evil.
    

• Infusing morality into an organization is tough:

  • You will need to recruit people who also agree with this morality and view

  • You need to make sure you are adhering to that morality as your business evolves and grows

  • Even people who agree with this view will start arguing about how much adherence is enough

  • factions will form and the most extreme voices will be the ones that are the loudest

  • The system collapses as it becomes too much to handle and you will either disappear or purge.