‘ETHICS ON THE CURVE”
The roots of The American Institute of Ethics stretch back well over ten years when a friend and investment banker, Harry Edelstein and I used to have lunch and we would lament what had happened to business since we began our careers. It seemed that business had lost the personal touch and the sense of trust that existed for so long. We were both concerned with the lack of ethics and decency in how business was conducted. Harry and I joined with Jim Myers, Alessandro Baccariand Joe Marchetti to found an organization to reverse this trend. We wanted to create an organization dedicated to the restoration and rebirth of ethics, trust and honestyto the business world. We formed The American Institute of EthiWe created the Institute to be a mirror of what is going on ethically both in the professional or business world; but also in people’s personal lives. We knew you cannot change organizations, but people can change. We met with experts in the field of ethics and researched many existing organizations and educational programs. We experience frustration at what is being offered.
There are many programs both in the public sector and the University environment that focus on the roots and early teaching of Ethics going back to the days of Aristotle and Plato. The principles we know are sound, but the application for today’s world were not.Our research of the Ethics educational and training programs that are available both in person and electronically substantially had one focus. Most programs we reviewed are about Corporate Governance, keeping companies honest and reducing lawsuits. We had to ask ourselves “Is that what we want to be?” The answer was a collective “No!” We are launching programs entitled “Rebuilding Ethics in a Changing World.” Our research and study showed us that the deterioration of ethics and ethical behavior was much wide spread than just adults in the business world. If we were to be successful in our Mission, we would have to reach all elements of society including young people even below College or University age.
When you ask people including very young people how they think they are doing in their lives ethically and honestly; they will tell you they are fine, they are doing very well because they are no worse than their peers. That is “Ethics on the Curve” or relativism personified. Is that what our parents and any spiritual or moral training that we had as children taught us? Of course not!
Looking at our society today from the viewpoint of ethics can be almost depressing. All the institutions that we have trusted all of our lives are failing us. Government, business, the media, the professions, religion, education all fall short when it is about being ethical, trustworthy or honest. Even in our personal lives, when Marriages fail at over a 50% rate, our young people cheating in school, stealing from others including their own family or friends; we had to ask where we have to start to turn this around.
We are launching a program entitled “Rebuilding Ethics in a Changing World.” Our study of other Ethics programs that are available do not address this need to move ourselves to striving for excellence. We seem to be content with the status quo or to reduce the expense of unethical behavior. What ever happened to wanting to excel and be the best person we can be in all that we do?
Upon reflection, is this really training people to be ethical or is this training people to avoid problems, reduce costs and be no worse than other people or organizations? This again is relativism or “Ethics on the curve.” We have to ask some questions: did your mother and dad train you to be honest and ethical, settling to be just one of the crowd, just to stay out of trouble or be a little better or the same as your friends. No, your parents and any spiritual, moral or religious training taught you to be honest – to be ethical in all of your dealings with others – to strive for excellence – the very best you can be.
Why should we operate in our private and professional lives in 2009 any other way, yet our society is accepting of Ethics on the Curve and Morality on the curve. The “curve” or parity exists to make all persons equal or the same; you end up with no one standing out or excell
The American Institute of Ethics does not share that philosophy.We yearn and we strive for excellence in ethics. We will not stand still or tolerate Ethics on the Curve – that is not ethics at all. That is not the image we want reflected to others from the mirror that we are. We are creating the mirror that will reflect ethics, honesty, integrity and truthfulness to everyone we meet.
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ETHICS
