By David Hegg

Except for those striving to live “off the grid” in the backwoods, we all live in community with at least hundreds of other humans. And therein lies one of the most significant challenges we face in life: getting along with other people!

The field of ethics is concerned with our core values and convictions as they relate to behavior. Since this column purports to explore the messy fields of ethical living, here are some thoughts on four essential tools for getting along. This is what I call “ethical one-anothering.”

Of course, this presupposes we want to both live in proximity with other people and do so in a way that benefits us all. Getting along with those around us, even those with whom we differ, has always been fundamental to every ordered society. For most of us, it started in the home, became more necessary when we entered school, and continues to be a skill in personal and professional relationships. So, if you need a refresher course in getting along, here you go.

A good starting point in relating to others is having reasonable expectations. We all realize you can’t expect a 4-year-old to do a good job filing your tax return. In this case, we consciously match the........

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