We explain what integrity is and the origin of this concept. Also, what is fundamentalism and integrity as professional ethics.
Integrity is a concept of Latin origin (integrate) which is used especially in ethics to refer to a virtue or conduct that can be characterized as blameless, undamaged.
Comprehensive ethical conduct rejects any attitude that evades responsibility and generally embarks on an honest search for truth through debate or discourse. He who acts with integrity can discern what is right from what is wrong, is consistent with this possibility of discernment even at his personal cost, and publicly declares that he acts according to internal consistency.
However, it is often confusing to speak of ethical conduct and upright conduct as synonyms, since both forms of conduct may not act on the same level. Yes ok A person of integrity is one who acts consistently with the values, beliefs and principles that he or she claims to uphold.many times their actions may not coincide with the moral conduct or ethical conduct expected in a given society.
In addition to being considered a model of conduct and an ethical value, Integrity is also protected by law. In the legal field, physical integrity and moral integrity are human rights protected by most legislation in the world, especially after the Second World War.
Etymology of “integrity”
The word “integrity” comes from latin integraliteswhich means “totality”, “virginity”, and also “robustness and good physical condition”. Derived from the adjective integratewhich refers to the quality that something has of being intact, whole, untouched or not affected by evil.
Both terms integralites and integrate, They have the prefix –inwhich indicates negation, and the root tangerwhich means “to touch” or “to reach.” In this way, integrity is that which is not touched, that does not allow itself to be reached or defiled.
Integrity and fundamentalism
Aristotle, in Ethics for Nicomachus, defines virtue as a habit that is located between two vices: one sins by excess and the other by defect.. Whoever acts virtuously must place himself at the midpoint between the two, to achieve a balanced and, therefore, virtuous life.
As a virtue, integrity, to be such, has to be at the midpoint between excesses and defects. The defect makes the person lack integrity, while the excess turns them towards fundamentalism. Fundamentalism expresses excess of integrity, that is, it denies other ways of understanding good and evil, and repudiates any principle that is not its own.
Fundamentalism is related to traditionalist ideas of the origin and exercise of power. It often resembles racial political and religious positions or fanaticisms.
At its opposite extreme, by default, and lack of integrity, is hypocrisy, which is the lack of coherence with the principles that one claims to adhere to.
Integrity as professional ethics
Professional ethics occurs when those who practice a profession carry out their activity in a manner consistent with the internal good of the organization. The idea of internal good is given in opposition to external good. External goods are linked to power, money, fame or renown, while internal goods have to do with achieving good for the entire community through the healthy exercise of the profession.
When there is a conflict between internal good and external good, we speak of poor professional ethics.. This happens, for example, when a doctor is concerned about taking money from a patient and not about curing him, or when a public official seeks to take advantage of his position instead of serving his community.
Integrity as professional ethics consists of act accordingly to the internal good of the profession that is practiced. To do this, you must first recognize and identify the internal good in question. Once this is done, the values that arise from such property must be followed, in order to act with integrity and according to what they dictate.
Integrity consists, thus, in act in accordance with the principle of public service and professional ethicson a daily basis and in a manner consistent with the values that the practice implies.
References
- Villoria, M. (2011). Integrity. EUNOMY. Magazine on Culture of Legality(1), 107-113.
- Sinnott, E. (Ed.). (2007). Nicomachean ethics. Colihue Editions SRL.
- Montoya Londono, M. (2010). A critical analysis of virtue in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Logos, 1(17), 49-61.
