I acknowledge that the pursuit of my life is to build, whether it be building physical structures, technology products, relational connections between humans, or institutions meant to withstand the test of time.
As a builder, I know that I am called to further human flourishing. I commit the work of my hands and my mind to fostering virtue, community, and the institutions that have been the bedrocks of human flourishing throughout history. I will always seek to consider the perspective of the user, customer, member, or owner that I am building for and to make decisions that are in the interest of their long-term flourishing.
I accept the heightened responsibility that comes with being a builder. I know that there is an objectively right way to build for each given context and I commit to do my utmost to build in this way. I humbly admit that there will be times when I fall short of this ideal. Times when the things I build fail or cause unintentional harm to others. Despite this fact, I will think through the impact of my building efforts ahead of time, taking accountability for mistakes, and making my failings right as fully as possible.
I know that the process of building is fundamentally contextual and I promise to take into account the physical, personal, societal, and temporal context of any building project as I plan and design. I swear to always seek to build in a way that is in concordance with the natural patterns, rhythms, and order of this world.
I vow to learn from the great builders of the past and acknowledge that I am forever a student of the building process. In solidarity with those great builders whose shoulders I stand upon, I will pass on my accumulated wisdom about how to build for the furtherment of human flourishing to any who genuinely seek that knowledge.
As a builder, I commit to holding myself to a higher standard of conduct. I will think through the harmful aspects of what I am building and will never build something that is designed to take advantage of people’s worst impulses. I refuse prey upon my users’ self-doubt, anxiety, or addictions. Instead, I will build in a way that supports humanity’s best impulses.
I understand that as a builder, demands of deadlines, leaders, profit, and more will will be placed on me. I know that at times I may be pressured to compromise my ethics for the sake of another’s short-term goals, but I commit to standing my ethical ground. I believe that the only way to build a better world is through individuals taking responsibility for what they build and that by holding myself to a higher standard of conduct, I empower others to do the same
I acknowledge that my effort as a builder does not end after the completion of a project. I accept that I have a responsibility to repair the things that I build and safeguard them against the burdens of time. Despite my best efforts, I understand the reality that in a temporal world, the things I build will eventually fade away. In the face of that inevitability, I chose to do what I can to nudge the world in a better, healthier, more whole direction.
When I build I will seek to inspire and empower the real human beings using my product to be the best that they can be.
When I build, I will avoid creating shadow patterns that deceive users into acting in a way that is counter to their long-term interest.
When I build, I will work to bolster mankind’s proclivity for kindness, empathy, and courage.
When I build, I will build with the user’s long-term flourishing in mind.
On this day, I swear to follow in the steps of the great builders who have come before me and commit myself to pursuing a better way of building. A way of building that draws on timeless wisdom to further human flourishing.
I commit to building better because in doing so, not only will the things I build become better, but through that process I, my community, and the world will become better as well.
