Though they are not generally either pledges, oaths, or promises, I want to discuss ethical wills because they are a unique
form of ethical declaration: a declaration of principles that one wishes to pass on to others and to live on in others long after one's own death. Specifically, "Ethical wills are a way to share your values, blessings, life's lessons, hopes and dreams for the future, love, and forgiveness with your family, friends, and community," as Barry K. Baines says on his website ethicalwill.com.
"Ethical wills are not new. The Hebrew Bible first described ethical wills 3000 years ago (Genesis Ch. 49). References to this tradition are also found in the Christian Bible (John Ch. 15-18) and in other cultures. Initially, ethical wills were transmitted orally. Over time, they evolved into written documents. 'Ethical wills' are not considered legal documents as compared to 'living wills' and your 'last will and testament' which are. Today, ethical wills are being written by people at turning points in their lives: facing challenging life situations and at transitional life stages. They are usually shared with family and community while the writer is still alive."
The following are links to various ethical wills found on the Internet. (Related topics: Refer to Promoting codes of ethics, pledges, etc. and Writing codes of ethics, pledges, etc..)
- "A Father's Admonition" by Judah ibn Tibbon, France, ca.1160/
1180 (from Paul Halsall, editor, Fordham Univ., Internet History Sourcebooks Project) - Ethical Will by Thelly Reahm, 1996 (Life Story Writing Network)
- Several examples of modern-day ethical wills, "written by people at different
stages of life" (from Barry Baines, ethicalwill.com)- More examples of modern-day ethical wills from Susan Turnbull's website
(Personal Legacy Advisors, LLC)- some Jewish ethical wills (Religion and Ethics
Newsweekly, excerpted from Jack Riemer's and Nathaniel Stampfer's So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them) - Several examples of modern-day ethical wills, "written by people at different