Ethics: Historical Precedence, Progression, Application

Synopsis:

Humans in 21st. Century have reached a point where, people have developed the ability to analyze and approve of ideas, processes and inventions on the basis of well defined procedures, specifications and laws. Be it the invention of drones, driverless vehicles or running a successful organization, each one has a set of procedures which when followed, concludes to a successful outcome.

The mechanism can be well defined, but, the implementation and management of such processes is done by Human beings. The moods, behavior and mental health of the individuals affects the outcome, no matter how efficient the procedures have been written and how many times they have proved successful. The interactive human behaviors, their moral values, which impacts the team work negatively or positively can be referred to as Work Ethics.

[1] “A belief in work as a moral good: a set of values centered on the importance of doing work and reflected especially in a desire or determination to work hard”

[2] “The word ‘Ethics’ has been derived from the Greek adjective ‘ethica’ which comes from the substantively ‘ethos’. The ‘Ethos’ means customs, usages or habits. Ethics is also called ‘Moral Philosophy’. The word ‘moral’ is derived from the Latin substantive ‘mores’ which also means customs or habits. Literally the word ‘Ethics’ means the science of customs or habits of men.”

As per [3] Britannica, Ethics is defined as “…also called moral philosophy, the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong….”

The origins of Ethics may dates back to the origins of humanity. Widely known as Abrahamic faiths mainly Islam, Christianity and Judaism, all believe to be the first humans to be Adam and Eve. The famous incident between their offspring’s, Abel and Cannes, has the traces of Ethics and morality. Cannes animosity due to envy, resulted in killing his brother.

Subsequently, many prophets taught and practiced the Ethical ways of living the life. Where, religion wasn’t followed, many philosophers’ pondered upon and shared their definitions, Hippocrates (D-375 BC), Socrates (D-399 BC) and Aristotle (D-322 BC) to name a few.

[4] “The early history of ethics includes the ethical training of elites in Ancient Egypt, the Vedic scriptures of India, and the Classical Chinese philosophers such as Confucius and Mozi. These systems all existed prior to the Ancient Greeks of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. However, Western philosophy regards the disagreements between Plato and Aristotle and the refutation of the ethical relativism of the Sophists as the early history of ethics.”

Philosophers’ Viewpoint:

Some of the findings of [5] Aristotle, were:

• “Good is that which all things aim. Something is good if it performs its proper function. E.g., a good coffee cup or a good red oak.

• Ethics starts with actual moral judgments before the formulation of general principles.

• People have a natural capacity for good character, and it is developed through practice. The capacity does not come first--it's developed through practice.”

[6] Socrates maintained that:

• Morality is knowledge of the Good through from rational insight into the good. As reasoning is one and the same for all. Therefore moral laws are universally valid. Hence, moral laws are not based on feeling and desires, but on rational thought.

• Socrates believes himself in virtues. Usually discussions of Socrates would focus around how to become virtuous or attain excellence. Virtue was discussed in this general sense and also more specifically in terms of self-controlled, courage, wisdom, justice and holiness.

Ethics / Morality in Religion:

Lets talk about the similarities of Ethics/Morality taught in major religions around the world:

Buddhism:

[7] “In the Five Precepts Buddha advises abstinence from:

• harming living beings,

• taking things not freely given,

• sexual misconduct,

• false speech, and

• intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.

While there are up to ten precepts for lay practitioners and sometimes hundreds for ordained monks, these five are the most basic and important.”

Christianity and Judaism:

Some of them are listed out in the famous Ten Commandments:

• [8] Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

• You shall not murder.

• You shall not commit adultery.

• You shall not steal.

• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

• You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Hinduism:

[9] A Hindu is advised to contain and restrain all the emotions that may lead to a sinful existence. Thus he is asked to control such emotions as Kama (lust), Krodha(anger), Mada (ego, pride) and Matsara (jealousy). The moral codes of various texts repeatedly emphasize the importance of being aware of these ordinary but strong human emotions that lead to the disruptions of a harmonious society.

Islam:

Islam teaches basic ethics and should be part and parcel of every muslim, from his/her childhood. Some examples from Quran and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) practices are as follows:

• [10] The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The young should greet the old, the passer by should greet the sitting one, and the small group of persons should greet the large group of persons. "

• [11] The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It is not lawful for a Muslim to desert (not to speak to) his brother Muslim for more than three days while meeting, one turns his face to one side and the other turns his face to the other side. Lo! The better of the two is the one who starts greeting the other."

• [12] The Prophet (ﷺ) said "When three persons are together, then no two of them should hold secret counsel excluding the third person."

• [13] The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked, 'What type of earning is best?' He replied, "A man's work with his hand and every transaction which is free from cheating or deception."

• [14] Abu Hurairah narrated that it was said: “O Messenger of Allah! What is backbiting?" He said : " Mentioning your brother with that which he does not like." He said " What if what I said about him is so?" He said: "If what you said about him is so, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not as you said, then you have slandered him."

Ethics at Workplace:

As we have observed, that, even when human instincts provide the difference between basic evil and good, religions, philosophers’ and authorities, reinforces them, which clearly indicates that reminders and reinforcements are necessary to achieve these basic standards.

Same is true for any work place. When we are working at different superiority levels with colleagues of various cultural and religious backgrounds, languages and ethnicities, some standard rules and regulations, specific to work ethics are developed.

Since, this document does not actually represent a business model or directly work related, most of us do not even bother to read it, let alone try to implement. Hence, some organizations, used presentations in form of videos, seminars etc, to remind the co-workers about the work ethics.

Some of the work ethics, includes but not limited to as follows:

• Treating people with respect, irrespective of their hierarchical position, creed, culture, gender, or ethnicity.

• Speaking truth.

• Take ownership

• Equality

• Don’t be judgmental

• Don’t Steal; which obviously means physically, but also, professionally; means, the task that is given to you, should not be left incomplete, inaccurate intentionally.

Moral Codes developed by many organizations, should not even be required, if everyone individually, adhere to the basic teachings and principles of religion that we follow or philosophical ideologies as explained above.

Let ethics be the first priority for us, in any workplace and/or outside; and humble ourselves, so that our peers, colleagues, co-wrorkers remember us in good words, even when we depart.

[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/work%20ethic

[2] https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908793.pdf

[3] https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethics-philosophy

[4] https://study.com/

[5] philosophy.lander.edu

[6] https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1908793.pdf

[7] https://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/glossary/buddhist-ethics/#:~:text=Ethical%20behavior%20both%20leads%20to,drugs%20causing%20heedlessness%20(Knierim)

[8] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ten-Commandments

[9] http://www.vkmaheshwari.com/WP/?p=341

[10] https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6231

[11] https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6237

[12] https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6288

[13] https://sunnah.com/bulugh/7/1

[14] https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1934