HOW TO AVOID CORRUPTION : Why good people do bad things

[prof]

The latest research in the science of Moral Psychology reveals some interesting findings. We have to keep telling ourselves: “You know, friend, the first little transgression could lead to more; for it will become a habit, then a compulsion. Then it very well could become a massive ethical error. So don’t even start on the first little step to personal corruption. Instead, I shall keep asking: How can I give? How can I be of service? How can I avoid debt? How am I able to pay off any debt I may have incurred? How can I continue to see the big picture, the implications my action may have? In short, how can I maximize the net value in my world?”

When adding value is constantly at the front of our minds we are less likely to lie or to cheat. That is a fact! (The "net value" is the value for the most people, considering the most factors I can think of....)

You are less likely to get corrupted because you will be asking of any decision you make: Is this fair? Will people be hurt? Etc. You will be unlikely to be asking: What will I gain? How will this affect my future? When your sole cognitive frame-of-mind is to make the best business decision (by today’s standards), you are likely to be blind to the ethical reverberations, and how it may eventually ruin your own life by corrupting you. [You may be saying to yourself: “O, it will never happen to me!!!” However, it can easily happen to any good person, if they are not aware …until the practice of adding value becomes a habit.]

Be aware that one lie – or one minor theft - leads to another lie – or a second petty swiping of someone’s property. One thing leads to another …this can’t be denied. That’s where awareness comes in handy. And so does knowledge – a knowledge of human psychology.

Now you know how corruption can be avoided. Teach it to your children. Teach it to any student willing to learn about human nature. Continue to appreciate the value of the Ethical life.

Here is the references to the scientific sources for the original post:

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/01/151764534 ... bad-things If you are interested, Google the researchers names that are mentioned to find out their credentials and where they published the abstracts.

Also, I refer all to the book, ANSWERING THE CENTRAL QUESTION by P. Demerest & H. Schoof. It combines Neurology of the Brain studies with formal Value Science to conclude that human beings are value-generating creatures, who can choose to recognize the value in others and to upgrade, neither over-valuing nor under-valuing themselves and the world. Profoundly interesting and clearly explained, and the new paradigm - which they have entitled axio-genics - is applied widely to many facets of life, for the reader to judge its worthiness.

I integrated cognitive psychology and axiogenics in the above post.

Thank you, in advance, for your constructive comments.

[Impenitent]

What do people yearn for today?

freedom from ethical systems.

-Imp

[reasonvemotion]

The most prevelant aspect of human nature today is greed and the downfall of many. How many of us know of, or even some of us may have, risked our security for financial greed, when it was not really necessary. Is it not morally healthier to live more simply, than to kill ourselves, with stress, simply to accumlate more and more wealth.

“Money often costs too much.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

[johngalthasspoken]

The most prevelant aspect of human nature today is greed and the downfall of many. How many of us know of, or even some of us may have, risked our security for financial greed, when it was not really necessary. Is it not morally healthier to live more simply, than to kill ourselves, with stress, simply to accumlate more and more wealth.

“Money often costs too much.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bullshit.... like a great man once said, "Greed is GOOD"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muz1OcEzJOs

[reasonvemotion]

Bullshit.... like the same man said "Greed" is NOT "good" ; "Money" IS "evil"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eEAA37N_zw

LOL

[johngalthasspoken]

my all time favorite economist, Milton Friedman ,on greed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A

[reasonvemotion]

Enjoy

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video?id=8649276

[johngalthasspoken]

Micheal Moore is hypocritical fat fuck , while advocating for more socialist policies & bitching about how capitalism is "Evil" & unfair to the so called "working class" , he enjoys the benefits of capitalism & amassed a multi-million dollar fortune selling his crappy books & stupid movies to his dimwitted gullible liberal audience.

[reasonvemotion]

my all time favorite economist, Milton Friedman ,on greed

This is entering territory on which I am quite ignorant. I know very little about money per se, but I do know greed and corruption when I see it.

[prof]

The most prevelant aspect of human nature today is greed and the downfall of many. How many of us know of, or even some of us may have, risked our security for financial greed, when it was not really necessary. Is it not morally healthier to live more simply, than to kill ourselves, with stress, simply to accumlate more and more wealth.

“Money often costs too much.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Greetings reasonvemotion

You have a good sense of values

Your comments are constructive. You are part of the answer; those whose comments are inappropriate and destructive are part of the problem.

What the world needs now is education in Ethics. And, I am happy to report, Ethics is catching on . I have amassed many files of evidence to confirm this. Still, it will take more time until the enlightened awareness reaches a tipping point.

[johngalthasspoken]

What the world needs now is education in Ethics. And, I am happy to report, Ethics is catching on . I have amassed many files of evidence to confirm this. Still, it will take more time until the enlightened awareness reaches a tipping point.

To claim you have ethics on your side is subjective since each person abides by their own ethical and moral code.

Instead, I shall keep asking: How can I give? How can I be of service?

you mean like a whore? i'm very selective about who i give,my compassion,my help & so on..

We need to work out a social balance between our collective security and individual liberty in a peaceful manner, allowing maximum individual freedom while promoting general social concern at the same time.The idea that individual liberty and the collective good of society are somehow at odds with one another is one which is only shared by some sections of the political spectrum.

[chaz wyman]

What do people yearn for today?

freedom from ethical systems.

-Imp

The complete reverse is the truth.
Had certain bankers and financiers not lost contact with their moral compass, the world's economy would not be in the shit it is now.
The trick is to figure out how to make the acts of the likes of Greenspan, Bernanke and Wolfowitz as legally bad as they are morally evil to bring them into line with the other cheats like Madoff and Dreier whose illegality is more obvious.

The problem is not an ethical system - it is relying on an ethical system as if it will give society protection from cheats and usurers, as if it were a legal system.

Less religion and more regulation and scrutiny is what is needed.

[chaz wyman]

The most prevelant aspect of human nature today is greed and the downfall of many. How many of us know of, or even some of us may have, risked our security for financial greed, when it was not really necessary. Is it not morally healthier to live more simply, than to kill ourselves, with stress, simply to accumlate more and more wealth.

“Money often costs too much.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The problem for society is that money is less stressful for some to get than others, and seem to avoid 'downfall' even at the cost of the world's economy.

[chaz wyman]

my all time favorite economist, Milton Friedman ,on greed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A

And it is that attitude that has led us to our present problem.

[prof]

my all time favorite economist, Milton Friedman ,on greed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A

And it is that attitude that has led us to our present problem.

I'm inclined to agree. The "greed is good" concept is indeed a cause of all kinds of ethical violations.

And at a libertarian website I found a video of Milton Friedman harassing a student who disagreed with him. She was very intelligent. Her questions (which challenged his philosophy and his economic views) were rather sophisticated and professional from an economic standpoint, but he did not appear to be much of an advocate of Liberty. He was throwing his weight around, browbeating her: radiating the attitude "I'm better than you are !! How dare you oppose me !!!" He would loudly make a point and then be dismissive as if to say "That's final. Debate over. I have spoken." I felt there was arrogance in the air.
{I do give Friedman credit for devising and promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has helped countless individuals to have less of a burden. We are a better culture for that.}

I am NOT assuming I am on the side of Ethics, or it is my possession. What I am doing is offering the incipient beginnings of an ethical system for Forum members to consider -- and perhaps modify and upgrade for the better. This is, after all, an Ethical Theory Forum.

It is not out of line to present a new ethical theory here. Those who are not seekers-of-truth will not bother to study it. Those who do read it may get some ideas, may be inspired to develop new social technologies that implement Ethics in the world, and thus make some progress toward opening that door of opportunity for each and every individual ...thus making for true Liberty.

Here are some references to papers and essays by Dr. Marvin Katz for your reading enjoyment. Let me know your impressions of the writings, whether you learned something worthwhile, and whether the writing was clear. Check out these links, and thereby add to your education:

Be sure to absorb the insights in the paper, LIVING THE GOOD LIFE. It is easier reading than the textbook on Ethics by the same author. It is as relevant today as is was when first written, in 2007. You may especially enjoy its cartoons. A link to the PDF file is here: http://tinyurl.com/28mtn56f

For the booklet A UNIFIED THEORY OF ETHICS, use this link:
http://tinyurl.com/27pzhbf Written in dialogue form, it depicts moral philosophers sitting around a table with the task of constructing a theory of ethics which is better than anything seen before. This booklet is the first of four parts. The other three parts are the following:

For the booklet ETHICAL ADVENTURES
http://tinyurl.com/38zfrh7

For the essay, ETHICAL EXPLORATIONS
http://tinyurl.com/22ohd2x

For the paper ASPECTS OF ETHICS
http://tinyurl.com/36u6gpo