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21: Humility among Other Virtues
- Texas Tech University Press
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Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues. Confucius (551–479 BCE), Chinese philosopher and social critic Genuine humility guides us to the development of other virtues and character traits that have profound effects on our ability to lead. Integrity, a devotion to ethical principles, empathy, and beneficence are all vital to personal and professional growth. Integrity Leads to Honesty The word integrity has different meanings in the material, intellectual, and ethical worlds. The material integrity of the skin of an aircraft’s fuselage displays strength, flexibility, and resiliency, protecting the plane from fissures and cracks, and ultimately, catastrophic failure. Intellectual integrity is the consistency of an individual’s beliefs with scientific and other scholarly evidence and proofs. People whose religious or political belief systems contradict well-established scientific findings have potential conflicts with intellectual integrity. Consider the following examples : •ChristophLuxenberg,alinguisticscholar,instudyingtheliteraryandphilological origins of the Koran, offers insights on the so-called Muslim martyrs who commit homicidal acts against innocent victims around the world. The 21 Humility among Other Virtues The Way of Oz and Humility.........................198 radical jihadists who enlist these suicide bombers promise them a heavenly reward for their diabolic acts: seventy-two virgins to enjoy in heaven. Luxenberg says this promise is based on a misinterpretation of the Syriac (a dialect of Aramaic) in the seminal texts, in which the word hur, rather than meaning “sultry virgins,” refers to refreshing beverages or chilled white raisins. This knowledge adds to our understanding of how intellectually dishonest jihadist recruiters can be in justifying their egregious missions. •Despiteonehundredfiftyyearsofscrutinyandrelevantscientificadvances, about 40 percent of Americans reject evolution as the best explanation for natural selection and diversity in biological systems. Some say evolution is just a theory, misled by the term theory as it is used in science. Scientific theories are never fully proven. They become accepted as proofs develop. In the case of evolution, the proofs are so overwhelming as to make its rejection an affront to intellectual integrity. •Rampantcommercialself-interestorpoliticalideologymaychallengeintellectual integrity when claims are made for cause-and-effect relationships. The tobacco industry, for example, hoodwinked the American public for decades , challenging the overwhelming proof of the link between smoking and cancer and cardiovascular disease. Consider also the case of Heinrich Himmler (1900–1945), propaganda and SS Nazi leader, who created a cult around his claim that he was the reincarnation of the first king of Germany, Heinrich I (who ruled from 919 to 936 CE). The bizarre claim helped to advance Nazi influence in Germany before and during World War II. Intellectual integrity, guided by informed skepticism and critical thinking, helps to uncover disparities between outmoded beliefs that have hardened into fact and new knowledge that is the product of objective scholarship and research. In addition to intellectual congruence, integrity calls for consistency of beliefs, values, and actions. For the student of the Way of Oz, the moral compass of integrity will direct you toward an appreciation for diversity, democracy, sustainability, personal responsibility, and accountability. Embracing these concepts calls for action, which links integrity and honesty. We need honorable men and women to speak up for their convictions, and sometimes integrity comes at a personal cost. When people of integrity [52.205.159.48] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 18:17 GMT) 199.........................Humility among Other Virtue< encounter situations where their values and beliefs are challenged, they must express their views, modulated through humility. Why? Because humble people know they can be wrong and know as well that the likelihood of persuading others to their positions is furthered by a temperate approach. Leading with a Devotion to Ethics In an age of transparency, responsibility, and accountability, ethics and a devotion to ethical principles become enabling factors. Whether you’re in school or working as a professional, you need to become acquainted with the codes of ethics and conduct relevant to your situation. Look at the codes of ethics and conduct of various firms, institutions, and organizations—for example, those of the Hewlett-Packard Company, the University of California , the Council of International Schools, the Forum on Education Abroad, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, and the Institute of Internal Auditors. Reading through the codes of these organizations will offer insight into what leaders consider to be ethical principles and practices. Codes of conduct generally include these principles: •Respectingdifferentculturesandcustomsandthedignityofothers,regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or national origin, color, creed, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, social class, political affiliation, or economic condition •Treatingothersfairly •Protectingfreespeech,privacy,andthepracticeofone’sreligion •Holdingemployees,volunteers,andorganizationalentitiesresponsibleand accountable for behavior and actions, both individually and collectively •Honoring individual employees’ or volunteers’ rights to fair and proper performance reviews, with a guarantee of due process, including the opportunity for appeals •Ensuringtruthfulnessandtransparencyinindividualandcollectiveactions •Abidingbyfederal,state,andlocallawandregulations •Promotingsustainability •Defendingindividualintellectualpropertyrights The Way of Oz and Humility.........................200 •Avoidingormanagingconflictsofinterestandcommitment •Ensuringconsistencyamongethicalprinciplesandorganizationalpolicies and practices •Strivingforhonorandexcellenceinindividualandcollectiveefforts These principles are taken seriously in most organizations of democratic countries, and the principles are energized by empathy and beneficence. Cultivating Empathy and Beneficence The mathematician, philosopher, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) once remarked, “Three passions, simple but overwhelming , have governed my life, the longing for love, the search for knowledge , and the unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. The world of loneliness, poverty, and pain make a mockery of what human life should be.” When you are empathetic, you try to understand the plight of others, putting yourself in their proverbial shoes. In doing so, you are also experiencing one of the highest values of the Way of Oz. The last value we’ll consider is beneficence. The concept of beneficence goes beyond being benevolent, beyond seeking good for others, to ensuring the future welfare of others. You will find beneficence among International Red Cross and Red Crescent professionals and volunteers, who deal with human distress and natural disasters all over the world in places like Darfur in Sudan and East Timor in Indonesia, not only attending to an immediate need but also trying to secure a better future for the millions of people who live in these places. Empathy and beneficence are the actionable aspects of the humility and ethics components of the Way of Oz. Beware of Wicked Witches The “wicked witches” that challenge your commitment to the Way of Oz can bedevil you internally as well as externally. Internal “wicked witches” manifest themselves as self-doubt, which is a lack of self-confidence and feelings of being an impostor. Someone who begins to think he or she is inadequate is handicapped at best and crippled at worst if the self-doubt inhibits learning, loving, serving, and growth in leadership development. Similarly, someone who has been a successful leader but is stunted by feelings of hav- [52.205.159.48] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 18:17 GMT) 201.........................Humility among Other Virtue< ing undeservedly achieved success may be a victim of the impostor syndrome —a psychological disorder that manifests itself when the person discounts his or her success as a “mistake”; thinks of himself or herself as a fake or fraud; or becomes inordinately upset by criticism, including constructive criticism. The negative results of the impostor syndrome include persistent selfdoubt , perfectionism, and procrastination. These internal “wicked witches” can be thwarted by positive self-talk or self-mentoring, the knowledge that such doubts have plagued some of the most famous people in the world, learning to love one’s self, and serving others. In sum, we need to recognize that life, as F. Forrester Church notes, is a process where “we must somehow learn to give ourselves away.” External “wicked witches” are people who cause failures in the academic , personal, and professional development of others, through malevolent intent and behavior. These “wicked witches” can be hostile acquaintances, coworkers, or even members of your family or people counted among your friends, who may injure you through aggression, arrogance, envy, manipulation , narcissism, and prejudice. You can thwart the malign influences of many of these external “witches” by cultivating the qualities and values inherent in the Way of Oz. ...