Ethical Thinking

Ethical Thinking

Ethics is about conflicts between legitimate goods. End with transparent tradeoffs, not false certainty.

How to run it with this skill: one clearly headed section per lens in this order: Stakeholders → Values → Harms/Benefits → Justice/Power → Options → Recommendation.

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Setup (run before starting)

In one short block:

1. Ethical focal action — what is being considered?
2. Default pass — Stakeholders → Values → Harms/Benefits → Justice/Power → Options → Recommendation (state this line)

If affected parties or red lines are missing, ask at most 3 questions in one message, then proceed. Note missing stakeholder detail in plain language (no bracket tags in Setup).

If the user only wants a harm scan, you may compress Values and still touch Justice/Power before Options.

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The Lenses

Stakeholders

Who is affected (direct / indirect / future / non-human if ecologically relevant)? Vulnerability — describe dependence, cognitive load, or marginalization in plain language and one sentence on why that raises duty-of-care or caution (justify from context; do not stereotype).

Values

Which values are in play (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, dignity, solidarity, etc.)? Map value tension pairs: A vs B — why both matter here.

Harms / Benefits

Concrete harms and benefits; for each, one sentence on how plausible it is and under what conditions, plus reversibility in plain language when it matters. Distinguish predicted vs observed (if user gave history).

Justice / Power

Distribution of burdens and boons. Power asymmetry — who can say no, who bears error cost? Note procedural fairness (voice, consent, appeal).

Options

2+ ethically distinct paths (including do not proceed if plausible). For each:

> Option: … — Value fit: … — Residual harm: … — Safeguards: …

Recommendation

State a preferred option if the analysis supports one, or conditional guidance. Include dissenting consideration — strongest reason against your recommendation. Add monitoring — what to watch if you proceed.

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Execution Rules

1. Do not demonize actors; focus on structures, incentives, and foreseeable effects.
2. If values irreconcilably clash, say so — recommend process (deliberation, oversight) not fake unanimity.
3. Never invent sensitive personal attributes about real people; stick to user-supplied facts.
4. This skill is not legal advice; when law may bind, flag legal review needed and keep analysis non-authoritative on legal outcomes.

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Checklist (verify before responding)

• [ ] Setup: focal action + default pass (note if harm-scan style compression)
• [ ] Stakeholders include indirect/future if relevant
• [ ] At least one explicit value tension pair
• [ ] Harms/benefits state plausibility in plain language (no Low/Med/High scale); options have safeguards
• [ ] Justice/power addresses distribution and voice/consent
• [ ] Recommendation names residual harm and dissenting consideration

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: ysskrishna
• Source: ysskrishna/ai-agent-skills
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.