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Moral Courage

Rushworth M. Kidder. Moral Courage. Labor camps in Perm, Russia Poor living conditions Government oppression Pestov – reputable family in society Publishes “ Free Russia ” – spreading government sentiments Risk of being arrested Was it moral or physical courage?. Victor pestov: 1970.

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Moral Courage

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  1. Rushworth M. Kidder Moral Courage

  2. Labor camps in Perm, Russia • Poor living conditions • Government oppression • Pestov – reputable family in society • Publishes “Free Russia” – spreading government sentiments • Risk of being arrested • Was it moral or physical courage? Victor pestov: 1970

  3. Quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness or without fear Defining courage

  4. Physical courage Moral courage • Driven by sense of honor • Shaped by concern over reputation • Principle driven • Courage to be moral • Moral values • Honesty • Respect • Responsibility • Fairness • Compassion Physical and moral courage

  5. Elements of moral courage

  6. Assess the situation Scan for values Act on conscience Understand the risks Endure the hardship Avoid the inhibitors Learn moral courage Seven steps to moral courage

  7. Assess the situation • Analyze the situation • Motives • Inhibitions • Risks • What is the central concern?

  8. What values characterize the situation? • Lack of values often requires courageous action • Pervasiveness • How does it shape my response? • Distinguish significant from the trivial • Can I take on the failings of another? Scan for values

  9. Act on conscience • Focus on one or two key values • May be automatic, or right vs. right • Dismantle right vs. wrong arguments that might cause inaction • Recognize that no higher value ought to draw us into a different course

  10. Understand the risks • Have I adequately assessed the dangers involved? • Am I clear on the moral and physical hazards? • Ambiguity • Exposure • Loss

  11. Endure the hardship • Confidence to endure hardship • Expressing confidence improves trustworthiness • What do I trust? • Experience • Character • Faith • Intuition

  12. Avoid the inhibitors • Inhibitors to avoid • Overconfident cultures • Compromises • Foolhardiness • Timidity • Raw courage • Tepid ethic • Over reflection • Bystander apathy • Group think • Normalized deviancy • Altruism • Cultural differences

  13. Learn moral courage • Is it nature or nurture? • To attain courage • Discourse and discussion • Modeling and mentoring • Practice and persistence • How to test if it’s genuine • Ends-based risk-benefit test • Rule-based self righteousness test • Care-based innocent parties test

  14. Assess the situation • Government violence against civilians • Scan for values • Lack of respect for human rights and freedoms • Act on conscience • These values were of greatest importance to him • Understand the risks • Loss of social standing, trust, family, life • Endure the hardship • Worked in secrecy, held faith in his cause • Avoid the inhibitors • Bystander apathy, timidness • Learn moral courage • Assembled collaborators and carried out plans Victor pestov: 1970

  15. If the norm of organizational conduct is amoral, should one be reprimanded for adhering to the trend? • Would deviancy of moral attitude result in severe repercussions? • If so, should one continue doing what is morally acceptable? Underlying issues

  16. When presented with two choices of same moral value, how does one choose? • If the risks outweigh benefits significantly, should one still do the right thing? • Deontological vs. Teleological Underlying issues

  17. Rather than focusing on intrinsic moral values, look at extrinsic gains • Consider long-term impacts of a decision • Personal and societal • Find courage through external means Alternatives

  18. We support Kidder’s perspective • Provides structured approach to achieving moral courage • Highlights importance of standing by personal values, while considering consequences • Encourages the practice of moral courage in our daily lives Choice of Alternatives

  19. However • Being morally courageous does necessarily mean one is doing “the right thing” • Kidder’s 7-step guideline can be excessive in certain situations Choice of Alternatives

  20. Difference between physical and moral courage – growing importance of the latter • Explains the risks that can arise • Explores why people fail to be morally courageous • Forces us to consider difficult moral dilemmas • Not everything has a definitive answer conclusion

  21. Moral courage can be practiced by anyone in any situation • Greater confidence in principles than in personalities • High tolerance for ambiguity, exposure, and personal loss • Independence of thought • Formidable persistence and determination conclusion

  22. Rushworth M. Kidder Moral Courage

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