HypoEthicals

The real world can be painfully predictable. From infancy, we’re taught right and wrong, good and bad, and acceptable and unacceptable. Each stage of life thereafter introduces new rules and lessons intended to teach us the “right way” to think and behave. We like to consider ourselves independent thinkers, fully conscious of our choices and actions, but most of us are essentially following a script written collaboratively by our parents, teachers, and religious, cultural, and institutional leaders. HypoEthicals™ are imaginary scenarios that pull you out of your real-world comfort zone and make you really think about your values, beliefs, and relationships with other people and the planet. The scenarios range from plausible to preposterous, from serious to silly. But even the seemingly silliest of them will reveal something about the answerer. Read the book with a group of people you know, or think you know. The responses will surprise you. HypoEthicals are meant to be shared, deconstructed, and debated. We’ve seen single scenarios launch heated hour-long conversations. Be sure to share the illustrations, too. They often add an additional layer of emotional depth, humor, or clarity. We hope the book gets you thinking, talking, and laughing, and that you learn a bit about yourself and the the people you’re close to in the process.