The Dichotomy of Advice separates practical guidance into two directions: avoid what undermines flourishing and embrace what supports it.
Adapted from Chapter 19 of 30 Philosophers, the Dichotomy of Advice is used within Personal Morality to clarify what kind of guidance is being offered. Some advice tells the moral agent to restrain, remove, resist, prevent, or reduce something harmful. Other advice tells the agent to cultivate, practice, strengthen, or pursue something beneficial.
The two directions often work together. Avoid addiction. Embrace health. Avoid dishonesty. Embrace truthfulness. Avoid cruelty. Embrace compassion. One side identifies what should be limited or left behind. The other identifies what should be built, practiced, or protected.
Within the TST Ethical Roadmap, the Dichotomy of Advice is invoked during Personal morality chooses. It helps the moral agent sort recommendations, traditions, rules, and ethical tools before deciding what to do. A choice may call for one direction or both, depending on the situation.
The Dichotomy of Advice does not decide which guidance is correct. It organizes the direction of the guidance so it can be evaluated more clearly. The moral agent must still consider truth, context, responsibility, fairness, consequences, and Flourishing for All before choosing.
