"More good would follow from teaching one’s
beliefs than from hiding where one stand in the name of impartiality” R. Druska
Lately
my friends most probably noticed a post on my Facebook page that I am buried
under Business Ethics studies. I should admit I was
very skeptical about this subject. I thought that ethics is not
really a subject for studies, as everyone can make a difference what is good
and what is wrong. And when I saw the immense list of required reading I was
not happier, but one article made me change my mind. I finally found an answer
to one of the questions bothering me lately.
Don’t judge. Isn't something
we say to the others and ourselves? Everyone is entitled
to their own opinion. Isn't something we believe in? Indeed, we
believe truly and deeply. Ronald Druska attributes these expressions to the
relativism, which holds that every group has its own set of moral beliefs that
are true for this group. We know it. But would you agree with this?
“Relativism
became a prevailing attitude, a skeptical attitude in a pluralistic,
tolerant society, where there are two or more sides to every story, requires
that every side be presented because every side has its own truth. In presence of such
an attitude, the only acceptable approach is the detached, non-committal
approach. The relativism
involves moral isolationism”. R. Druska
Tough words, aren't they? But when I read it, I got the
same elevating feeling like Archimedes, when he stepped into his bath and
proclaimed “Eureka”. Lately I have noticed that people, whom I know or meet,
are very cautious in their thoughts, choices and attitudes. When they express
their thoughts, they are deprived of personal statement and served in
neutral colors The prevailing logic rules: “Not taking “sides”
results in absence of side effects”. When one needs to take a decision, he/she
prefers to stay aside. When one has to stand up, he/she rather disappears
elegantly in a corner. And here is the paradox. More you try to please
everyone, more isolated you get, as you are surrounded by the same type of non
committal individuals. But is this group reliable? Loyalty is another tough
word and the corner stone of reliable relations. Loyalty is about commitment,
but not unconditional one. There is a difference between the “right decision”
and the decision made in the right way. The latter one is made with good judgement and sensitivity.
Why I needed to share it? Sometimes when you are in a room with
another 200 people, you have the same feeling like in a tagline of the famous
movie “Face/Off” (1997): “It’s like looking in the mirror – only not”. You
might recognize the same impartial behavior among people
you call your friends. The same skeptical attitude prevails in
hundreds of faces and a rare glimpse of self-consciousness sparks among these
clouds. And I want to catch that glimpse, because I believe that these people
have more potential and chances of doing things in the right way and I know
that they will take responsibility for the consequences that their actions
would cause.