The Ethics of Gratitude

Submitted by the Centre for Health Care Ethics

Image provided by the Centre for Health Care Ethics

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues, but the parent of all of the others” (Cicero, 106–43bc).  The concept of gratitude has been referred to in philosophy as a virtue and as a morally positive character trait, and in ethics, as a moral duty or obligation. One point of general agreement, between the immense philosophical literature and ethical arguments, is that gratitude is a socially and psychologically beneficial human experience with (at least some potential for) positive moral value or significance. In recent decades, gratitude has gained recognition for its ability to improve: daily life satisfaction, subjective wellbeing, positive affect, mental health, pro-social behaviour, social bonding, resilience, learning capacity, and even sleep! Could gratitude potentially have more dynamic uses in health care among patients and workers?  Can an attitude of gratitude provide us with the power to shift our focus?

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, what can the ethics of gratitude teach us about ways to enhance our personal and/or professional lives? These questions are up for discussion at the next Encounters in Bioethics session led by guest speaker Dr. Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio PhD, RN. Kristen is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing at Lakehead University, Director of the Centre for Health Care Ethics, and Head of the 1st Canadian Bioethics Unit as part of the International Unit of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics. Everyone is invited to join the presentation titled “Ethics of Gratitude”, which will take place on Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 12:00pm-1:00pm (ET) via ZOOM link: http://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/94770687942. No pre-registration is required.

For further information, please email chce@lakeheadu.ca or call (807) 343-8126.