{"id":276591,"date":"2023-08-31T15:25:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T13:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=276591"},"modified":"2023-08-31T15:25:22","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T13:25:22","slug":"the-rebirth-of-ethics-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=276591","title":{"rendered":"The rebirth of ethics in America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From\u00a0CFACT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By\u00a0Duggan Flanakin<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thirty-five years ago, syndicated columnist Cal Thomas wrote a book entitled\u00a0The Death of\u00a0Ethics\u00a0in\u00a0America<\/em>, citing (among many others) a 1987\u00a0Wall Street Journal<\/em>\u00a0headline, \u201cEthics\u00a0can be nice, but they can be a handicap, some executives declare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the book, Thomas was effusive about the ethical standards of the founders of a country which saw itself as having a \u201cmanifest destiny\u201d as God\u2019s chosen nation. He laments that two centuries of materialism, relativism, and secular humanism had left America rudderless and called for the re-establishment of ethical standards to guide leaders at all levels into wiser decision making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas\u2019 book, while perhaps too steeped in religious terminology, zeroed in on his observation that the loss of a sense of responsibility beyond our own profit and pleasure had brought about a callousness to wrongdoing that weakened the nation\u00a0Ronald Reagan<\/a>\u00a0once called \u201cthe shining city upon a hill.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its place has emerged a potpourri of assertions and demands that have fragmented the nation and left little room for respectful discussion, let alone debate on even the most pressing matters of national survival and purpose. Let\u2019s face it \u2013 We now see a return to mudslinging and finger pointing that obscure significant graft and mismanagement from public view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, it is arguable that only a society lacking in ethical standards could produce the recent FTX customer funds scandal; and worse, when charged with fraud and conspiracy, the\u00a0CEO\u00a0could honestly<\/a>\u00a0(yet naively) say, \u201cI don\u2019t think I tried to do anything wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, despite perhaps veering off the ethical course our forefathers sought for us, in politics, academics, business, and in life, on the horizon, there are optimism and tangible prospects for lasting change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian Peckrill, the interim Executive Director of the\u00a0William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, has overseen the Fund\u2019s 14-year-old Fellows Program since 2021. McGowan chooses one second-year MBA candidate from each of ten participating university business programs for intensive training using a teaching method\u00a0which draws from the Center for Creative Leadership\u2019s internationally recognized leadership development methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Named for MCI founder William G. McGowan, the Fellows program began in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, which was blamed in part on an ethical collapse. The McGowan\u00a0Fund\u00a0wanted to nurture aspiring leaders who would count social impact as well as shareholder value in their decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peckrill says the McGowan Fellows program flips the typical MBA model by devoting only 10 percent of students\u2019 time to classroom activities and another 20 percent to coaching that focuses on teaching McGowan\u2019s six\u00a0principles of ethical leadership \u2013 character, integrity, courage, accountability, self-awareness, and empathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bulk of the program consists of fieldwork\u00a0via<\/em>\u00a0challenging stretch experiences that move the students outside of their comfort zone and press them to look at life from other perspectives. Back in January, the ten second-year MBA candidates provided outreach for a youth shelter, handing out fliers, sanitary kits, and other items valued by the homeless in the Windy City\u2019s zero-degree weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The students learned first-hand that quality, career-sustaining jobs can lift even the most\u00a0disadvantaged\u00a0people out of homelessness. They visited youth shelters and\u00a0listened to\u00a0residents, learning their stories\u00a0and their dreams and desires for a career and a better future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peckrill notes that many former Fellows are already moving into \u201cC class\u201d corporate and other leadership positions and bringing their ethical standards with them. When asked what other academic institutions might do to revive ethical standards for their own students, Peckrill was quite blunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think just having a class focused on ethical leadership is enough. What we at McGowan believe,\u201d he said, \u201cis that, as students go through their life experiences,\u00a0ethics\u00a0should be embedded in all that they learn. Even marketing and finance courses are not immune to ethical challenges. Ethical leadership bleeds into all areas of business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He concluded, \u201cbusiness schools seeking to teach ethics should take a holistic approach to integrating an ethical framework across the entire curriculum\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then again, ethical leadership is bigger than just business or politics \u2013 all industries and societal sectors would benefit from the presence of individuals \u2013 especially in leadership positions \u2013 who apply an ethical framework in all their actions and decisions, which have impacts far beyond what lies right in front of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peckrill explains that the hands-on approach of \u2018learning by doing\u2019 enables McGowan Fellows to better determine what is fair and just. By learning how others less fortunate live and cope with their challenges, these young future leaders learn for themselves\u00a0the impact of their leadership decisions, and\u00a0how to respond to the challenges they will face as they climb the ladders of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Fellows program enters its fourteenth year, Peckrill asserts that ethical leadership is critical for building a sustainable, successful society. People need to see ethical leadership as a positive and honor and celebrate ethical leadership \u2013 from the boardroom to the classroom to the workroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toward that end,\u00a0 two years ago McGowan began honoring the \u201cEthical Leader of the Year Award,\u201d announced at the annual meeting of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), as a way to celebrate ethical leadership at its highest level in society. \u201cI think,\u201d Peckrill said at this year\u2019s award ceremony, \u201cthat our country is crying out to celebrate and honor individuals who are ethical leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fund, in choosing their honoree, considers their adherence to the six principles of ethical leadership and their contributions to society, their management and leadership of people, and their establishment of ethical processes. This year\u2019s honoree was Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian; the inaugural honoree a year ago was Prudential Financial Chairman and CEO Charles F. Lowrey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peckrill praises SHRM for its own commitment to ethical standards.\u00a0Johnny C.\u00a0Taylor, Jr.<\/a>, president and CEO of SHRM, agrees that, \u201cThe key to a great leader is one who builds a strong workplace culture with personal accountability and a commitment to setting an example in words, decisions, and actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the whirlwind of today\u2019s political and social confrontations, ethical leadership may make the difference between future prosperity or societal collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It only takes one moment of arrogance to start an irreversible conflict and the destruction it can bring with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only ethical people with ethical leaders can accept the compromises that iconoclasts before us believed were absolutely necessary for society to persevere through trials and tribulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article originally appeared at\u00a0The Opinion Pages<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Duggan Flanakin<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duggan Flanakin is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow. A former Senior Fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Mr. Flanakin authored definitive works on the creation of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and on environmental education in Texas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brief history of his multifaceted career appears in his book, “Infinite Galaxies: Poems from the Dugout.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Only ethical people with ethical leaders can accept the compromises that iconoclasts before us believed were absolutely necessary for society to persevere through trials and tribulations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":276599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691822227,691822226,691822225,691822228],"class_list":{"0":"post-276591","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-2008-financial-crisis","9":"tag-ftx","10":"tag-rebirth-of-ethics","11":"tag-society-of-human-resource-management-shrm","13":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-1130.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-19X9","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":300864,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=300864","url_meta":{"origin":276591,"position":0},"title":"JC\u2019s ethics complaint against Michael Mann","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/09\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"BREAKING.\u00a0 The verdict is in \u2013 GUILTY.\u00a0\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In \"Judith Curry\"","block_context":{"text":"Judith Curry","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=judith-curry"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/00Screenshot-2024-02-09-151534.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/00Screenshot-2024-02-09-151534.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/00Screenshot-2024-02-09-151534.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/00Screenshot-2024-02-09-151534.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/00Screenshot-2024-02-09-151534.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":237604,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=237604","url_meta":{"origin":276591,"position":1},"title":"German Ethics Council Chairwoman: Investigation Of Corona Debacle \u201cDangerous To Democracy\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/03\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"An investigation of the Corona policies debacle would be \u201cdangerous to democracy\u201d, claims German Ethics Chairwoman Alena Buyx","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-92.png?fit=1067%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-92.png?fit=1067%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-92.png?fit=1067%2C600&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-92.png?fit=1067%2C600&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-92.png?fit=1067%2C600&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":365543,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=365543","url_meta":{"origin":276591,"position":2},"title":"Will AI Soon Figure Out (Without Our Help) How to Give Itself a Conscience?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/09\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The potential for AI to solve problems is growing exponentially\u2026like a fire set off by a tiny spark on an endless ocean of gasoline. Someday, likely much sooner than we believe, it may itself solve the riddle of how to give itself a conscience \u2013\u00a0and do it! 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Makes more sense than his climate concerns.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-386.png?fit=1200%2C648&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-386.png?fit=1200%2C648&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-386.png?fit=1200%2C648&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-386.png?fit=1200%2C648&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/image-386.png?fit=1200%2C648&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=276591"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":276601,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/276591\/revisions\/276601"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/276599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=276591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=276591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=276591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}