Ethics and logic

Ethics / logic is one of the 4 Jungian dichotomies, and also one of the 15 Reinin dichotomies. Ethics in socionics is a perceptual quality defined by a focus on the human, social, moral, and emotional content of reality. In contrast, logic entails a focus on the inanimate, measurable, systemic, and procedural content of reality.

Ethical and Logical Types

Ethical types are: SEI, ESE, EIE, IEI, SEE, ESI, EII, and IEE.

Logical types are: ILE, LII, LSI, SLE, ILI, LIE, LSE, and SLI.

Nomenclature

In three-letter type codes, “Ethical” types have E as either the first letter, if ethics is their leading function (ESE, ESI), or as the second letter if ethics is their creative function (SEE, IEI); “Logical types have L as either the first or the second letter, depending on where in ego block their logical element is located.

In four-letter type codes, “Ethical” types have an F (feeling) as the third letter, and “Logical” types have T (thinking) as the third letter (e.g. ISFp, ISTj)

Theoretical properties of ethical and logical types

In socionics, two information (IM) elements denote ethics - Fe symbol_e.gif and Fi symbol_r.gif, and two denote logic - Te symbol_p.gif and Ti symbol_l.gif.

Socionic types that have ethical elements in functions 1,7 and 2,8 are called Ethical types. Types that have logical elements in these functions are called Logical types.

Description of the psychic functions

Ethics

Ethics is a mental process (or ‘psychic function’) that involves focusing on emotional experience, human relationships, and subjective attitudes. Ethics comes in two varieties (extraverted and introverted) depending on whether attention is focused on reality outside the subject or on the subject’s impressions of reality.

Half of the socion consists of ethical types. These types have either introverted or extraverted ethics in their Ego block (the first two functions).

Logic

Logic is a mental process (or ‘psychic function’) that involves focusing on inanimate objects, logical relationships, and objective truth. Logic comes in two varieties (extraverted and introverted) depending on whether attention is focused on reality outside the subject or on the subject’s impressions of reality.

Half of the socion consists of logical types. These types have either introverted or extraverted logic in their Ego block (the first two functions).

Typical characteristics of ethical and logical types

Ethical types

  1. In their thoughts and interactions, give greater weight to ethical factors.

  2. Rather talk about ethical evaluations (“good or bad”).

  3. Frequently better at solving interpersonal problems.

  4. More often have problems with finding logical solutions.

  5. Tend to prefer persuasion over argumentation.

  6. More vulnerable to “logical” manipulation.

Logical types

  1. More often make decisions based on logical reasons.

  2. Rather talk about logical evaluations (“right or wrong”).

  3. Frequently interested in systems, structures and patterns.

  4. More often have interpersonal problems.

  5. Tend to prefer argumentation over persuasion.

  6. More vulnerable to “ethical” manipulation.

Ethics-Logic and Gender

Generally, most socionists claim that logical types are more common among men, and ethical types among women. The ratios suggested are generally between 55%-45% and 70%-30%. Others maintain that the distribution is more or less balanced.

In addition, socionists note that logical women tend to be more emotional than logical men, and ethical men less openly emotional than women.

It is sometimes suggested that this disparity has a biological basis; namely, that women are biologically adapted to bear, rear, and educate children and to cooperate with others, which are ethics are a suitable tool. Men, however, are biologically inclined to procuring food, organizing work activities and hierarchies, and competing with others, in which logic often plays a greater role.

The association with women as openly emotional and men as less so is also subject to the influence of cultural stereotypes.