Kantian Sincerity and Professional Ethics - Assignment Example

?Kantian Sincerity and Professional Ethics Introduction Sincerity can be understood as a moral standard arising from within a person, and is basedon truth of word and action. It can be a key solution to professional ethics. A sincere person commits such acts that he justifies as not harming any other person living around him, and wants the benefit of all people regardless of the harm he may have to suffer from while benefitting others. Sincerity makes him weigh his acts according to ethics. Kantian sincerity explains the aspects of sincerity based on good will. This paper intends to explain the essence of Kantian sincerity, and how it can relate to professional ethics and good will. The importance of professional ethics in the life of an organization is discussed, in correlation with Kantian sincerity. The characteristics of a sincere and ethical leader have been described, so as to give the reader an idea as to what is expected of a person who follows Kantian sincerity and ethical guidelines. 2. Kantian Sincerity Kantian sincerity is based on good will. “…the sincere will is both good and autonomous”, according to Palmquist (2010:635). Palmquist writes in his book that Kantian’s good will considers acts to be virtuous, good, and sincere, by associating them with the moral law coming from within the person, rather than weighing the acts on some external principle, lying outside the person. Similarly, professional sincerity cannot be measured by a parameter defined by the external world; instead, sincerity will be measured by the person’s own good nature. The Kantian model helps us understand how professionals can generate professional sincerity or good will. It states that, although to be sincere means to work in accordance with one’s own nature, yet it does not mean that to be sincere is as easy as something done naturally. According to the Kantian model, to be sincere means to make efforts in committing sincere acts according to one’s own good will. Kantian moral law, which comes from within a person, is admirable, and personal good will is obedient to this moral law. Likewise, Kantian sincerity is obedient to personal good will. Kantian associates holy will with sincerity, and regard a sincere person as one who deserves a heavenly place. Professional sincerity has also got the same philosophy. When Kantian sincerity works with professional ethics, it becomes a part and parcel for the progress of an organization. Also, when this sincerity, which is valued by a person’s internal good will, is also recognized as a precious asset by the outside world, this is the point when sincerity achieves its milestone in the chain of human progress. This sincerity also plays an important role in Confucian process of moralization. Palmquist (2010:633) states that: The centrality of sincerity can be seen even more clearly when we take it to be primarily a quality of the will and when we compare the sincere will with the Kantian good will. As Kant says (4:392-3): “Nothing in the world- indeed nothing even beyond the world- can possibly be conceived which could be called good without qualification except a good will. Hence, Kantian sincere will brings the self in agreement with the dao; and since dao is good without qualification, in the same way, sincerity is also good without qualification. Kantian model also states that sincerity is the Way of Heaven; and to achieve this sincerity is the way of man. And whosoever is easily walking on the Way of Heaven led by sincerity, is the one who can be called a sage. Kantian model describes a sage as a person who has got a perfectly manufactured good will. A Sage’s good will is absolutely sincere, and thus, it can also be related to holy will, guided by sincerity on the Way of Heaven (Palmquist 2010:636). 3. Professional Ethics Kantian ethics describe that those acts should be considered as right which seek our good will. We know that the accomplishment of an organization depends mainly on value-based actions and decisions. Value-based actions and decisions, arise from Kantian sincerity, and are a part and parcel of professional ethics. Some basics in this aspect are that, the ethical leader verifies that the salaries are being paid in time; pursues a system of rewards and bonuses; and, listens to the employees’ troubles, and tries to remove them. This keeps them working at high competence. Professional ethics demand making agreements with business partners while respecting their decisions. This confidence between the partners makes the organization grow, and maintains its integrity. Kantian ethics help understand how to schedule projects keeping in mind the time frame, and instruct the team to manage their work schedules accordingly. A leader, who follows Kantian sincerity and professional ethics, knows that he has to abide by the rules and regulations he has agreed upon while signing a contract, and will never back off. Brilliance in these basics adds to the progress of the organization. If a person, following Kantian sincerity and ethical guideline, works according to his values and sees a manufacturing error in his product, then he will certainly tell the client about the fault without hiding the truth. He will discuss the issue with the personnel and the client to let them know that he genuinely wishes to remove the error. This endorses confidence between the company and the client, and also motivates other employees to follow the same directions. Furthermore, sincere and ethical leadership will take care of the employees, so as to preserve a vigorous environment within the organization. Ethics promotes fairness among the staff. An ethical leader will confirm that all workers are treated fairly, that there are no separate canteens for administrators and for spot boys, and there are no separate parking places for executives and for clerks. 4. Conclusion To conclude, sincerity makes a person act according to his conscience, which is always right because it works in accordance with nature. Hence, it can be a key solution to professional ethics. Kantian sincerity arises from a person’s good will, and requires effort in being implemented in real life. Sincerity works in accordance with professional ethics, when the objective is to achieve organizational milestones. References Palmquist, S.R., 2010. Cultivating Personhood: Kant and Asian Philosophy, Walter de Gruyter, USA. (Note for QAD: This style of Harvard referencing has been instructed to me by QAD itself.) Read More