Our academies of higher education are fine purveyors
of knowledge. Yet, there is something missing. It has only been within the last twenty years that ethics was no longer stuck
in a corner in the Religion and Philosophy departments of most major universities. Strikingly, the debate still rages among
faculty and administrators over whether or not ethics can even be taught.
What is even more incredible is the turf wars among departments who can teach it and fail to
see the ethical dilemma that little scenario creates. Colleges and universities alike have reluctantly been dragged into value-difference
arguments and display what might best be described as a benign reluctance to teach ethics. They have no interest, nor do they
wish to take the lead to teach applied ethics in their communities. In other words, in their minds, why teach what they believe
is not teachable.
This abysmal record of accepting
ethical accountability to lead community ethics development efforts is not unique to educational institutions. This universal
systemic problem exists nationally and internationally among all organizations that influence the public lifestyle, underlying
cultural morality, and day-to-day conduct.
Organizations
concerned with the pressures of maintaining their own images of ethical propriety are pulling together increasingly disparate
ideas of political correctness and what is, or is not, ethical. In defining their own conduct that should accompany grounded
organizational ethical behavior has, unfortunately, created a whole new set of dilemmas for institutions pressured to step
up to the plate.
Author: Dr. Fred DiUlus, Director, CEFE
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Leaders Fail Ethics 101
