Very sad outcome for one who found herself in the midst of a terrible ethical question.
When should we decide to do the right thing? After the wrong has already been perpetrated and underway? No, the decision should be made before we ever reach a point of experiencing unethical pressure from bosses, friends, or whoever.
12/4/2011 6:18:44 PM
(RACOHIO)
<p>
I have started a corresponding Twitter account to this group where I am following news, industry, government and other organzations that are associated with Corporate Governance, Compliance and Ethics. I may also tweet periodic quotes from current readings I am doing via Kindle. Check it out @ <a href="http://www.twitter.com\@Phronesis_TabUp">http://www.twitter.com\@Phronesis_TabUp</a>.</p>
12/3/2011 10:23:17 AM
(RACOHIO)
I came across this site and found it an interesting effort on behalf of Nancy R. Smith. Each of us can become our own "apologist" for the values we care about, but we have to find our own way of expressing it, such as Nancy has done. Wikopedia has a decent definition for "apologetics", which is from the same root greek word as we get the word "apology", but as we see from the following definition, the meanings are entirely different:
Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers (c. 120-220) who defended their faith against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called apologists.[1]
see the direct url address http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologetics.
It is true that apologists are historically understood as pertaining to certain adherants to Christianity, and to their acts of being "defenders of the faith". However, the truth is that this word in the greek simply means "speaking up to defend" (parphrased). Apologies are a "making right" for some wrong that has been committed.
I have found that regardless of the faith or background of an individual, we all have a context that is "naturally" understood around what is wrong or right. However, for many people this distinction is more like just a part of their lives, like a familiar cloak we sometimes call uon and throw around our shoulders to keep us warm, but we are not always sure what role it may play at other times in our lives. Sure, we realize that good decisions can help us avoid wrong consequences, but when we put all that into words, still we struggle with why a person SHOULD, or MUST, or OUGHT to care about those values all the time. After all, doesn't it "depend on the circumstances"? Isn't hat makes me happy more important? Isn't that the way EVERYONE sees it?
Funny thing is ... that always works for us when WE GET TO DECIDE" if it is relevant to our situation. However, if someone else is making that call, maybe we would have them do something else. Something like what is said in "The Golden Rule", maybe. That "do unto others what you would have them do unto you" thing.
Like most things in life, we can build and improve upon our understandings (or conversely weaken and undermine them) through both active and passive decisions that we make in our daily lives. Do you know of a situation that you might be an "apologist" in, and a possible influencer of doing the right thing? Here's to the mirror of our hearts. What are you seeing?
12/3/2011 9:04:55 AM
(RACOHIO)
Congratulations on your new tab! You’re halfway to solving your group
communication problems. Now, invite others to share in the discussion.
Whenever you post to your tab, everyone gets the message.
11/26/2011 6:10:37 PM
(RACOHIO)
<p>
Why Phronesis ? Sounds like a very odd word that many of us won't readily recognize, and are even less likely to remember. So let's quote from the ultimate source of all knowledge, Wikopedia: ;-)</p>
<p>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phronesis">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phronesis</a></p>
<p>
To extract from the definition given in this veritable source of reference information, Phronesis basically is understood as "Practical Wisdom". </p>
<p>
You see, I have has some experiences lately in the work place that have sent home the message loud and clear that there is a growing divide in our nation (and our world) around what is appropriate behavior and sound character. I have noted that the common sense understandings that everyday people once possessed around what is ethical and moral have severely eroded from what they were when I was just a child, and that they are being replaced by behaviors and thoughts that speak to the lowest common denominator of who and what man is from an ethical perspective.</p>
<p>
Don't get me wrong ... this is not new at all, especially to those like myself who possess basic underlying moral foundations that are based in faith in God. So I hope this group will not grapple with the "surprise" of such a revelation. However, I believe that it is true that we all have been given certain "practical wisdoms" by our creator that enable us to see what is happening to us, our families, our employers, communities, governments and society at large. This is the question I would like to grapple with in these group discussions. The question is how we all may be "apologists" (defenders) of the right in a way that everyone around us can see.</p>
<p>
Let me start with a first question then ....</p>
<p>
Have you had any experiences in the last few years where you felt very uncomfortable with the ethics and values displayed by others around you? Tell us about them and how you felt you responded to those situations.</p>
12/1/2011 7:45:59 PM
(RACOHIO)