The fundamentals of moral integrity<\/p>\n
By Mochtar Buchori<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In times of turmoil, hope and fear, I always
\nlook for somebody who is dependable, conscientious and morally
\ncourageous. I need to recognize such personalities to generate a
\nfeeling within myself that I am not walking blindly, but that I
\nam following a morally correct path during a critical moment. By
\nfollowing examples or opinions pronounced by such personalities I
\nhave always hoped to have a correct and meaningful life.<\/p>\n
Professor Stephen L. Carter of Yale Law School used the term
\n"integrity" to explain personalities such as this. He defined
\nintegrity as "the courage and the willingness to act and speak on
\nbehalf of what we know to be right". According to his analysis,
\nintegrity can only be achieved after following these steps.
\nFirst, we should discern what is right and what is wrong, then
\nact on what we have discerned, even at a personal cost, and
\nfinally we should openly state that we are acting on our
\nunderstanding of right from wrong.<\/p>\n
This highlights the fact that a person with integrity is
\nalways a rare species in any environment. Those who have been
\nbrought up in a normal environment have learned from childhood to
\ndistinguish right from wrong. But only a few among us have been
\ntrained to act in a consistent manner on what we know about right
\nand wrong. And when we become adults, we learn that we have to be
\nvery careful in saying anything about our conduct and its moral
\nbasis.<\/p>\n
Therefore, can integrity be taught? And can we teach our
\nchildren to become individuals with personal integrity?<\/p>\n
Not really. We can teach our children the foundations of
\nintegrity, but not integrity itself. According to Carter,
\nintegrity is a journey and not a destination. Thus to achieve
\nintegrity each one of us has to make that journey ourselves. We
\ncannot hire a tutor, and ask him or her to show us integrity.<\/p>\n
This personal journey is necessary as a person is only
\nrecognized as having integrity after they have defended a number
\nof principles. One has to pass a test to be recognized as a
\nperson of integrity. The harder the test one has passed, the more
\nconvincing his or her integrity becomes to others. And in most
\ncases the true test of integrity constitutes having to face
\nunpleasant consequences of one's conviction. Willingness to
\naccept such consequences, and actually going through such
\nunpleasant experiences constitute the ultimate proof of
\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
How do we teach such knowledge and dispositions to our
\nchildren? How do we explain to them that integrity is a
\npraiseworthy attribute, and that it makes one socially and
\nmorally distinct? How do we teach them the basic notions of right
\nand wrong? And how do we explain to them that defending a
\nconsidered certitude is a noble effort, especially if one has to
\nstand alone in such an effort?<\/p>\n
Schools cannot contribute significantly to the growth of
\nintegrity among our children as long as they continue to perceive
\neducation merely as an activity related to cognitive development.
\nI don't think that our schools can significantly stimulate the
\ngrowth of conscience -- which is the basis of integrity -- as
\nlong as they remain indifferent towards the real struggle that
\ngoes on within the society between right and wrong, good and
\nevil.<\/p>\n
The foundations of integrity can be taught only by schools
\nwhich are institutionally involved in society's struggle to stop
\nthe erosion of morality and resurrect decency. Independence in
\nmaking moral judgments constitutes a basic prerequisite for
\nschools to function as defender and promoter of morality. Schools
\nmust be allowed and encouraged to be independent in making
\npronouncements related to morality. It is only in this way that
\nschools can effectively function as agents of morality.<\/p>\n
Without independence in moral judgments schools cannot discuss
\ncurrent problems of integrity. At the moment, it is very
\ndifficult for people to be moral because there is so much
\nconfusion in our society concerning what is right and what is
\nwrong. In this time of normative confusion it is very easy for a
\nvillain to pass as the law-abiding party, and for the victim to
\nbe condemned as the one committing the crime.<\/p>\n
It is a time to show our children living examples of integrity
\nand immorality. It is also a time we can refer to realities to
\nshow our children how integrity is achieved or not achieved in
\nour society today. On the basis of these realities we can teach
\nthat courage is needed to discern right and wrong in our daily
\nlives.<\/p>\n
We can also show our children what it takes in our society
\ntoday to follow the path of right or wrong. And we can show our
\nchildren how great personalities in our society today publicly
\nsay what is right and what is wrong in their opinion, and the
\nbasis of their moral pronouncements.<\/p>\n
In this way we can show our children the struggle to achieve
\nintegrity today, and the social price of maintaining integrity.<\/p>\n
One of the difficult things to teach is that dissent can be an
\nexpression of moral integrity. During this time of mandatory
\nconformity -- or when conformity is taken for granted -- any form
\nof dissent is immediately branded as disloyal or even subversive.<\/p>\n
Equally difficult to teach is the concept of fake integrity or
\na false notion of integrity arising from the failure to
\ndifferentiate good principles from evil ones.<\/p>\n
A person who consistently advocates and defends a set of evil
\nprinciples may thus claim to be a person of integrity.
\nConsistency in maintaining oppressive regulations can also be
\ndefended as an act of integrity.<\/p>\n
Thus it is only when the ethical basis of a set of principles
\nare made explicit that we can judge whether rejecting or
\ndefending those principles should be considered as an act of
\nintegrity or an act of deceit.<\/p>\n
The writer is an observer of social and cultural affairs.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-fundamentals-of-moral-integrity-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }