AUSTRALIAN ETHICS

DECEMBER 2013 AUSTRALIAN

APPLIED ETHICS PRESIDENT’S REPORT ASSOCIAITON FOR PROFSSIONAL AND ETHICAL REFLECTIONS E T H I C S : O N MEANNESS APPLIED AND Hugh Breakey PROFESSIONAL

 Business Meanness is a common occurrence. It ‘contempt’ and ‘cruelty’. Even here, his forms part of the social backdrop in  Education treatment is revealing. Hobbes holds which we all live, play and work. Most  Engineering that these emotions arise from being of us, I think, can think of examples of  Environment insensible to others’ calamities—an mean behaviour we have witnessed,  Law insensitivity he thinks proceeds from and many of us would know someone  Medical one’s own security. For Hobbes does we think of as ‘having a mean streak’. not conceive it possible ‘that any man  Nursing should take pleasure in other men’s  Police Yet meanness is not a topic that gar- great harms’ purely for its own sake.  Public Policy ners much ethical attention. Out of As I read him, Hobbes first tries to pre-  Public Sector curiosity, I recently searched a few academic databases for works on sent cruelty as an instance of insensi-  Social Work meanness. Even in the context of psy- tivity (which it is not), and then tries to  Teaching chology there was surprisingly little— confect ‘ends’ being served by the cru- most of it about school-age children. elty, so as to deny the possibility—the INSIDE THIS I S- In terms of philosophical or ethical very conceivability—of someone inflict- SUE: analysis, there was almost nothing. ing harm for the sheer pleasure of it. PRESIDENT’S 1 This seems to me startling—surely Defining meanness REPORT meanness, as much as selfishness, is one of the key drivers of human mis- I think Hobbes is wrong. Meanness is U P C O M I N G 4 ery in the modern world. Perhaps it is not selfishness or callousness. The 2013 AAPAE more visible when performed to and callous person is amoral: she is some- CONFERENCE by schoolchildren, but it is hardly an one who is willing to do whatever it

exclusive concern of that age-group. takes to secure her desired ends: A THEORY OF 6 power, money, influence and so on. ACCOUNTABIL- I wonder if this lack of discussion im- ITY But the harm the callous person in- plies that we struggle to face up to the flicts is not performed for its own sake, idea that some people might want to as an end in itself. It is done only in- BUILDING THE 9 be cruel to other people, just for its strumentally, as a means to some ETHICAL MUS- own sake. Hobbes, for example, is not CLE other, distinct value. The mean per- a philosopher known for his rosy view son, however, performs the harm for of human nature. Yet in an otherwise its own sake, and not for any further T H E I R R E- 11 lengthy explanation of emotions and good. He wants to inflict harm, to drag SPONSIBILITY their meanings in Leviathan, he does O F C S R another person down, to wreck her not mention meanness at all. The self-belief and undermine her self- closest he gets is the emotions of esteem. Meanness, then, is low-grade AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 2

REFLECTIONS ON MEANN ESS (CONT’D)

cruelty; cruelty for people with- ships that might prove massively the immediate effect one has on out a work ethic. beneficial for their future, mean the world. A mean action makes people go around unnecessarily a difference, it is a way the world Meanness, so defined, is every- making enemies. Soundlessly, is changed by one’s actions, it is where, including in the domain invisibly, mean people are cut off an achievement (albeit one easy patrolled by professional and from future job opportunities, to accomplish). If that is right, applied ethics. I submit that it helpful associations, fun events, meanness is a strategy against motivates harassment and bul- insignificance; it is a prop for an lying in the workplace, vitriol in ego that needs to see its will im- the twittersphere and attacks “If it isn’t per- pact upon the world. on facebook, personal abuse in formed on the ba- relationships, point-scoring in sis of selfishness or The significance of meanness: boardroom discussions, and Racism and sexism verbal assaults on random self-interestedness, Suppose we take meanness seri- strangers in public places. To why are so many of ously as a real and abiding fact of be sure, all these actions can us mean, at least human psychology. Could that happen for motivations distinct inform the way we think about from meanness. But very often, on the odd occa- some issues in professional and I think, they are a result of a sion?” applied ethics? naked will to harm for its own positions of authority, friend- sake. ships and relationships, and all It might. For the existence of meanness might imply that the Meanness as will to power because they couldn’t resist the temptation to knock someone problems we think we have with Why are people mean? This down a peg. other areas—such as racism and seems to me a much more per- sexism—may in large part be a plexing question than the more But this very fact makes mean- problem we have with meanness. general one of, ‘why are people ness perplexing. If it isn’t per- Sometimes social commentators selfish?’ People are selfish be- formed on the basis of self- seem to speak as if racists are cause they don’t accept any interested prudence, why are so otherwise decent, reasonable moral constraints on getting many of us mean, at least on the folk who—if only they could only what they want. Selfish people odd occasion? be disabused of their irrational simply see what they want and Here’s one speculation: perhaps notions about racial difference— they go for it. But meanness is meanness is an expression of would thereafter be good and to enjoy inflicting harm for its what Nietzsche called the will to worthy citizens. On this view, the own sake—not merely as an in- power—the wish to feel and problem is fundamentally one strument to some further, ulte- know that one is powerful. about their views and values on rior motive. As such, meanness Meanness gives the mean per- race in particular, and not a more is not only different to selfish- son the thrill of mattering in the general one about their moral ness, but can often conflict with world, of being an object of oth- psychology. the narrow pursuit of one’s ers’ attentions, of having an im- other desires. Mean people of- pact on what others are doing I accept that there are some peo- ten undermine their own self- and feeling. It is an action one ple who are like this. It’s not hard interest when they are mean. can perform where one can see to imagine an otherwise good- Instead of facilitating relation- hearted person who grew up in a AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 3

PRESIDENT’S REPORT (CONT’D)

culture where children are iour hurts others and to under- pare for people to actively at- taught that racial differences stand why it does so. But such a tempt to undermine our efforts to are morally relevant, or who course of consciousness-raising implement such measures. If rac- lives in a world where all the cannot cure meanness. The ist or discriminatory behaviour is people with a particular skin mean person wants to hurt oth- not a means to an end, but for colour are poor and unedu- ers. Showing him the effects of the mean person an end in itself, cated, and who mistakenly con- his actions just demonstrates then prohibiting such acts do not cludes that racial difference that he is succeeding. merely prevent a person taking correlates with differences of “Their character particular means to pursue ends character or rationality. But in they can achieve in other ways. my own world at least, I don’t flaws were by no Instead, such rules prohibit the think I’ve ever actually met any- means limited to person’s desired end itself. And one like that. Pretty much every their particular that suggests such prohibitions person I’ve ever met who es- will be resolutely resisted. poused what seemed to me views on discrete To be sure, it’s possible I have genuinely racist or sexist views classes of peo- the causal story quite backwards. was not otherwise a nice per- ple.” Maybe the presence of sexism son. Their character flaws were and racism enable and encour- by no means limited to their age the broader character trait of particular views on discrete This isn’t to say that pro- meanness, rather than being classes of people. They were grammes preventing racism and manifestations of it. But either mean in a much more unquali- other sorts of discrimination are way, if our goal is to improve the fied sense. not worthwhile. Preventing racial morality of workplaces, home- This point needs to be distin- insensitivity and thoughtless sex- lives and social engagements, it guished from a person being ism are noble goals, and rules helps to be clear-eyed about the insensitive to racial or sexual prohibiting certain acts can work nature of the problem confronting issues. Certainly someone can irrespective of the motives differ- us. be a decent person who, ent people have for performing Hugh Breakey through lack of awareness those acts. about current society or prior Institute for Ethics, Governance But it is to say that in some history, or entrenched institu- and Law (a United Nations Uni- cases it is necessary to be realis- tional structures that perpetu- versity Associate Institution) tic about the pervasive nature of ate inequalities, behaves with- moral vices. There are three rea- out a appropriate degree of Griffith University sons for this. First, if we misread sensitivity to minorities. Educa- the motivations at work, then we tion can fix a decent person

>: might attempt to treat the moral who is cul- vice with an ineffectual interven- turally in- tion. Second, we might merely sensitive— shift the outlet of the mean they just

- person’s vice to a different need to but equally vulnerable target. ( learn that Finally, we might need to pre- their behav-

AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 4

Welcome to the 21st ANNUAL Mark your Diaries! AAPAE CONFERENCE , June 2014

Sunday 22nd June — Tuesday 24th June, 2014 University of Notre Dame, Broadway Campus, Sydney.

The 21st annual AAPAE conference will be held in Sydney from June 22nd to 24th.

Hot on the heels of hosting the AAPAE’s 20th conference in Fremantle earlier this year, the University of Notre Dame will once again host the AAPAE Annual Conference—this time at UNDA’s Sydney Cam- pus.

The university has a strong commitment to the teaching of Conference Committee ethics across the curriculum, and it houses the Centre for Feel free to email with any queries about the conference. Faith, Ethics & Society. Assoc Prof Sandra Lynch, University of The Conference theme is: Conscience, Leadership, and the Notre Dame, Problem of “Dirty Hands” [email protected] Dr Joseph Naimo, University of Notre The Call for Paper is already out. We have some excellent Dame, [email protected] keynote speakers confirmed and more to come. Dr Alan Tapper, John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, See you in Sydney next June! [email protected] The 2014 Conference Committee. Dr Peter Bowden, University of Sydney [email protected] For paper submissions: Matt Beard, University of Notre Dame, [email protected] The Centre for Faith, Ethics & Society

CFE&S is a research centre based at The University of Notre Dame Australia focusing on social, political and applied ethics from philosophical and theological per- spectives. CFE&S aims to engender dialogue within both the academy and public sphere with a view toward creat- ing a more ethically intelligent and imaginative society.

For more information, please visit CFE&S online at: http://www.nd.edu.au/research/cfes/cfes.shtml or find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nd.cfes AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 5

CALL FOR PAPERS! Conference Theme: Conscience, Leadership, and the Problem of

The development of professional duties “Dirty Hands” and responsibilities is no panacea for Ap- plied Ethics. At times, professional respon- sibilities appear to clash with deeper moral beliefs regarding what one ought to do, or how one ought to live. At other times, situational necessities seem to require or justify some individuals vio- lating or ignoring their moral duties. The question remains: Are we sometimes obliged to get our hands dirty? In this 21st meeting of the AAPAE, we call for papers discussing how the demands of conscience and the problem of dirty hands bear on ethical leadership in the professions. Although we welcome submissions from any area of professional or applied ethics, suggested areas of discussion include: - Military Ethics & Supreme Emergency - Policing Ethics & Honour Role Corruption - Sports Ethics & Governance - Medical Ethics & Conscientious Objection

Abstracts are due by 1st April, 2014. There will be opportunities to publish conference submissions following the completion of the con- ference—including through Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations, the official journal of the AAPAE. To offer a paper, please submit an abstract of 300-400 words to: Matt Beard, Research Associate, Centre for Faith, Ethics & Society, University of Notre Dame, Ph: (02) 82044189, Email: [email protected]

Professor Raimond Gaita, Confirmed Keynote Speakers Professorial Fellow in the Melbourne Law School and The Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne and Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College London. He is a Fellow of Academy of the Humanities. Gaita's books include the award winning Good and Evil: An Absolute Conception; Romulus, My Father; A Common Humanity; and The Philosopher's Dog. Because he believes that it is generally a good thing for philosophers to address an educated and hard-thinking lay audience as well as their colleagues, Gaita has contributed extensively to public discussion about reconciliation, col- lective responsibility, the role of moral considerations in politics, the Holocaust, genocide, crimes against humanity, education (the nature of teaching as a vocation, the role of love in learning) and the plight of the universities. Dr Pippa Grange Pippa Grange is a Doctor of Psychology working primarily within elite sport in the areas of culture and ethical leadership. In particular she provides strategic leadership and governance on culture change projects, including stakeholder engagement, policy development, creating high perform- ing and functional environments and an emphasis on lifetime wellbeing. She also provides con- sultancy in ethics and leadership for sport and other high performance environments, which can include mediation, advocacy, coaching, and decision-making counsel. Grange is the founding di- rector of Bluestone Edge: Building Sound Cultures: http://bluestoneedge.com/ AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 6

A COMPREHENSIVE THEO R Y O F ACCOUNTABILITY Gordon Young

The concept of accountability is a exist, Party A must impact upon rectly or without prior communica- core aspect of applied ethics, ad- the interests of Party B – in this tion – if the builder uses the dressing conflicts between individu- case by delivering an incomplete neighbours’ front yard to dump als, groups and institutions, to both house that must be re-built. rubbish then he can clearly be determine responsibility and ensure held accountable by those just restitution. Yet despite this, no This applies even when Party A neighbours, despite no formal objective theory of accountability impacts upon their own interests. understanding or prior communi- currently exists in the field of phi- If the builder above was building a cation existing between them. losophy or ethics, resulting in widely house for himself then it is both differing views on when accountabil- reasonable and realis- Using ‘impacts on ity exists, what it involves and how it tic for him to explain “Accountability the interests of oth- should be enforced. and justify his decisions is essentially ers’ as the basis for to himself – indeed this is essentially accountability how- This gap was identified during my process could be said about explain- ever means that research into The Ethics of Account- to underlie all decisions ing one's deci- that virtually any ability within Government, resulting made by individuals, if ing one's deci- decision or action a in the development of a comprehen- usually on a subcon- sions and be- person does or does sive and measurable theory of ac- scious level. haviours, with not take establishes countability designed to establish haviours, with a relationship of precisely when one party becomes From this we can deter- a view of justi- accountability with mine that it is the im- accountable to another, the precise fying them.” themselves and nature of this relationship, and what pact upon a party’s fying them. others – there are the practical consequences may be. interests by the decisions and very few, if any, actions an individ- actions of another that estab- ual takes that do not affect others When does accountability occur? lishes a relationship of account- to some degree, if only to an ex- Relationships of Accountability. ability between them. tremely minor degree. Accountability has a number of defi-  It is reasonable for Party B to Therefore these relationships nitions, but is essentially about ex- hold Party A accountable where must be limited to reasonably plaining one's decisions and behav- Party A's decisions or actions im- serious and immediate impacts iours, either voluntarily or by require- pact upon the interests of Party B. upon the interests of others; addi- ment, with a view of justifying them tional elements of Scope and De- – demonstrating that they were right  It would be unreasonable to gree are required. or acceptable. As such, in order for hold Party A accountable to par- Party A to be held accountable, they ties, upon whom their decisions Limits of Reasonableness: Scope must be held accountable by some- and actions do not impact. and Degree one for a reason. It should be noted that relation- Scope If Party A is a builder, contracted by ships of accountability are often If a relationship of accountability Party B to build their house, and he formally established through the is established when one party fails to include a bathroom, then he granting of agency, whereby Party impacts upon the interests of oth- is clearly accountable to Party B. A is empowered by Party B to act ers, then the scope of that ac- or make decisions on their behalf This example shows that in order for countability is determined by the – the builder is empowered by the a relationship of accountability to number of people that are directly owners to build their house and impacted by said decision or ac- can therefore be held account- In the previous issue of Australian able by them. While being granted tion: Ethics, Gordon Young provided an agency makes a relationship very By constructing an incomplete analysis of accountability within explicit, it alone is insufficient for house, the builder not only leaves the Victorian Parliament (AE, 2013, a comprehensive theory of ac- the owners with expensive modifi- Issue 1). countability as it fails to address cations to make, but also creates In this issue he describes the the- situations where a party impacts emotional distress – distress ory of accountability he developed on the interests of others indi- during that research. AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 7

A comprehensive theory of accountability (Cont’d)

From this example we can see that which may spread to their family and old of seriousness. friends. While it is reasonable to the seriousness of the impacts upon hold the builder accountable for the a party’s interests determines the  It is unreasonable for Party B emotional distress caused to the Degree to which the offending party to hold Party A accountable owners, their family and friends are is accountable to them, and that this disproportionately to how seri- not impacted upon in a sufficiently seriousness can be determined by ously their interests were ob- direct manner to consider the the difference between the Subject’s jectively impacted, or where builder accountable for their distress expectations and the reality which such impacts are insufficiently as well. the Protagonist delivers. serious. The scope of a party’s accountability It is important to note that expecta- Activating must also be limited to the exact tions are often subjective however, account- “The scope of interests of others which they im- and as such the owners in the exam- ability: accountability ple above may be unsatisfied even pact upon – for example, it would be Quality of must be limited unjust for the owners to hold the when the builder delivers exactly account- what they asked for. While a rela- to the exact in- builder accountable for their garden ability dying when his actions (including his tionship of accountability likely still terests of others failure to build a bathroom) had no exists (the owners will probably be The theory which are im- quite upset), the objective serious- thus far impact on the garden whatsoever. pacted upon.” ness of this relationship will be far establishes  It is reasonable for Party A to be less than the owners believe it to be. when one held accountable by the number This issue of subjectivity is com- party can be held accountable by other parties upon whom their pounded when the expectation be- others, and when this is reason- decision or behaviours have im- tween parties is unstated or implied able based on the limiting factors pacted reasonably directly, for – the owners will expect the builder of Scope and Degree. However, the specific interests they have not to dump rubbish in their garden these elements only demand that without having explicitly asked them affected. the Protagonist give an explana- not to, but may also expect water tion for their decisions and ac-  It is unreasonable for Party A to tanks installed without having ever tions; it does not determine be held accountable to parties asked (or paid) for them. whether those actions were ac- whose interest they do not im- ceptable or not. To do this a sepa- In light of this, the degree of ac- rate element of Quality is re- pact reasonably directly, or for countability between one party’s quired. any specific interests they do not expectations and the reality deliv- impact upon. ered by the Protagonist must be If the builder constructs a house Degree measured as objectively as possible, without a bathroom then the drawing on measurable impacts owner’s interests are impacted The significance of the accountability upon the party and the reasonable- directly and seriously by them – between a Subject and a Protagonist ness of their expectations. Addition- the owners may reasonably de- is based on both an expectation and ally, a threshold of Degree must be mand an explanation from the a corresponding reality. recognised in order to ensure this builder, who is ethically compelled Theory remain practical, whereby to provide one. However, if the When the owners commissioned any impact on a Subject’s interest builder can provide reasonable their house, they expected it to in- that is too minor or trivial be ex- cause for their actions – such as clude a bathroom as per the blue- cluded – for example holding the that no bathroom was included in prints and the price they paid. The builder accountable for making the blueprints, or that instability of degree to which the house created noise during business hours is un- the site made construction dan- by the builder differs from this ex- reasonable. gerous – then while they can be pectation will determine how upset considered accountable for im- they are about it and the amount of  It is reasonable for Party B to pacting the owner’s interests, they money required to fix the situation – hold Party A accountable propor- cannot be considered at fault for painting the bathroom the wrong tionate to the degree that they doing so. colour will be significantly easier to objectively impact upon Party fix than failing to build it altogether. B's interests, where those im- As this example demonstrates, the pacts pass a reasonable thresh- distinction between accountability AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, M A Y 2 0 1 3 Page 8

A comprehensive theory of accountability (Cont’d)

and responsibility is a serious countability is not established, or manded the builder cannot justify one. Accountability demands that where appropriate tests of justifica- his actions, as he simply forgot. As a party explain their decisions or tion are passed successfully. such the owners can justly demand actions, but does not determine restitution for the money and time whether they were right or wrong Consequences of accountability lost, as well as emotional trauma to make those decisions or behav- Where a relationship exists and the caused by the builder. Demanding iours. The question of responsibil- accountable party fails appropriate the builder construct them an en- ity is another topic entirely and tests of justification, we can now tire new house, vastly more valu- can be addressed in a variety of declare them formally accountable. able than the original, would not be ways, however it must be judged However, such a conclusion be- justified however. for accountability to be of any comes completely irrelevant unless practical value; demanding and This component of the theory is this then leads to corrective action – perhaps the most neglected in day securing an explanation from the such consequences must be propor- builder is meaningless unless that to day life, yet without it the entire tionate to the scope and degree of theory is irrelevant. Given the intent explanation can be judged and the established relationship in order acted upon. of this theory is to describe and to be just: regulate all instances of account-  It is reasonable for Party B to The builder failed to include a bath- ability, there cannot be any excep- judge Party A as unjustified where room, inflicting considerable finan- tions to this element. In other a relationship of accountability is cial and emotional burden on the words, the consequences of ac- established and appropriate tests owners. They are clearly included in countability must be compulsory, of justification are failed. the scope of the relationship, and regardless of the context of the the degree is both serious and the situation, though the context  It is unreasonable for Party B expectation underlying it is reason- should be considered in determin- to judge Party A as unjustified able. When an explanation is de- ing the methods by which the con- where either a relationship of ac- sequences are enacted. Gordon Young

Comment and critical analysis of this theory is welcomed as it is in the process of review prior to submission for publication. Contact Gordon Young at: [email protected].

The Complete Theory AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, M A Y 2 0 1 3 Page 9

Building the ethical muscle – St James Ethics Centre’s Executive Counsel and Ethics Counsel programs

Across all sectors, the capaci- broadly in society. ity. ties and competencies of indi- Through its commercial services In contrast, the Ethics Counsel pro- viduals to be more aware and arm, The Practice, the Ethics Cen- gram is applicable to individuals at to better understand the ethical tre provides two programs— any level of an organisation or as a dimensions of their profes- Executive Counsel and Ethics member of a professional associa- sional lives and the values, prin- Counsel—that develop the compe- tion who has breached an ethical ciples and purpose that guide tencies and capacities of individu- framework, guideline or code of their own deliberations, along als to make good decisions and to practice. To date we have offered with their relative organisations build their awareness of the ethi- the Ethics Counsel program to prac- and professions, are impera- cal dimensions of their profes- titioners in the pharmacy, nursing tives in an increasingly complex sional life and roles. and medical professions, as well as and interconnected world. Through the Executive Counsel to commercial clients. Clients who At senior levels in organisations program, experienced and emerg- are referred to us can include indi- the need for ethical leadership ing lead- viduals in commercial organisa- The Executive Coun- from senior executives has ers are tions who have breached a code of sel program allows never been greater, from the able to conduct. More commonly however, perspective both of the organi- examine executives to explore the service is taken up by mem- sations which they lead as well and de- guiding frameworks bers of professional associations as the communities in which velop their of purposes, values or through licensing boards who they operate. Intense public capacity and principles of the have issued an education order or scrutiny, pressure to manage to con- executive and their suspended a license to practice, for the short term and an uncer- sciously organisation, as well subject to the individual success- tain economic, social and busi- fully completing an ethics related shape the as the obstacles ness environment require ex- direction program. traordinary leadership—not just faced in giving them of their practical effect. The program builds on the diverse management—capabilities. organisa- range of consulting, leadership, However, regardless of role or tions. The program utilises an ex- learning and development and organisational level the capaci- periential learning approach and counselling work the Ethics Centre ties of individuals to make through a series of one-on-one has undertaken over many years. ‘good’ (read ethical) decisions, meetings combined with individ- Our approach combines ethical and is integral to all professional ual reading and work programs, it character evaluation and develop- roles. St James Ethics Centre allows executives to explore guid- ment elements, focusing on issues provides a range of profes- ing frameworks of purposes, val- of individual character, which are sional development and learn- ues and principles of the execu- critical for this work, and are ex- ing services to help individuals tive and their organisation, as well plored in relation to the professional better understand the ethical as the obstacles faced in giving contexts, obligations and responsi- dimensions of their personal them practical effect. Participants bilities of individuals and the factors and professional lives, and im- investigate challenges to ethical that shape and impact their deci- portantly, provide tools, tech- leadership as well as opportuni- sionmaking. Through an experiential niques and the development of ties to overcome resistance to learning process, the participant capacities to make better deci- change. Customised for the objec- explores past conduct and current sions and work together more tives and needs of clients, the Ex- situations, taking account of core effectively. This work and our ecutive Counsel program stimu- values and principles, moral sensi- programs as a whole have a lates the deep reflection and ex- tivity and relational and situational focus on enabling practical, real ploration needed to clarify and ethics. This deep reflection on past world ethical decisionmaking transform understanding of self action and current decisionmaking and responsible behaviour both and others, and in turn to trans- helps build self-awareness, and pro- within organisations and more form individual leadership capac- vides a basis for development of the AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 10

Building the ethical muscle (cont’d) tion, re- ing: moving individuals into sponsibility uncharted and uncomfortable participant’s ethical awareness and duty could render her vul- territory that develops and and their capacity for ethical ac- nerable to ethical blindness. tests leadership capacity; tion and leadership. Appropriate strategies were  Reflection: deep contempla- Importantly, while recognising, developed in each area that would help in building ethical tion to build rigorous decision- acknowledging and exploring the making capability; specific ethical transgression resilience. that provided the impetus for the While the reflection on past ac-  Socratic method: using and individual to undertake the pro- tion helps build self-awareness developing the ability to ask gram, the program is designed of the particular issue, including the right questions; with a focus beyond specific de- its challenges and the partici-  Strategic capacity: big issues, cisions and situations in provid- pant’s responses to it, the pro- ing a process through which indi- big ideas, hard questions and viduals can build ethical deci- moral courage; “In exploring sionmaking capacity on an ongo-  A well-developed empirical ing basis. For example, one re- Kim’s ethical ca- framework for ethical decision cent client, let’s call her Kim, pacity a number of -making: the St James Ethics undertook the program following vulnerabilities Centre’s ethics framework and an education order from a regis- were identified, all ethical decision-making tration body. She was a young of which contrib- model; graduate and relatively new to uted to her deci-  A blended learning approach: the profession, dedicated and sion to defraud with a strong work ethic. Kim experiential exercises, read- took over a struggling family Medicare.” ing, reflection and discussion; health business, and her sense  Collaborative projects: devel- of duty to support her family as gram also provides an opportu- oped in consultation with par- well as keep the family business nity to look at current chal- ticipants to provide applied afloat was compromised. She lenges and how learning might rigour to their learning. made some unauthorised Medi- assist in developing greater care claims that lead to a regis- moral clarity and capacity in Both programs are delivered by tration board hearing. In investi- present and future practices. Ethics Centre staff and accredited gating her ethical capacity a counsellors. The insight gained through self- number of vulnerabilities were reflection, facilitated discus- For more information on either identified and explored— sion, customised program con- program contact: including the pressure to not fail tent and learning resources, in front of the family, the respon- John Neil, Senior Consultant, The helps individuals to better self- sibility of managing a business Practice at St James Ethics Cen- assess their capacities and ca- when so new to the profession, tre pabilities and acquire the skills and the responsibility to provide and techniques to strengthen D: +61 2 8267 5779 for her extended family, all of which contributed to her deci- their ‘ethical muscle.’ M +61 0406 608 612 sion to defraud Medicare. Over Although the impetus to under- T +61 2 8267 9477 take the Ethics Counsel and the course of the program she http://www.ethics.org.au/ came to understand the influ- Executive Counsel programs ences on her ethical decision may be very different, each pro- making, the triggers and pres- gram is designed sures that might lead to moral around a common set disengagement, the relevance of of pedagogical and her professional code and men- philosophical ap- tors that could assist in business proaches: and professional decision mak- ing, and the ways in which isola-  Experiential learn- AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2013 Page 11

On the Irresponsibility of “Social Responsibility” Marc Orlitzky Corporate social responsibility, often remain unacknow- more volatile, that is, it tends to or CSR, has become a big deal ledged. Over the years and for destabilise markets. Given many in many parts of the (business) various reasons, I have turned institutional drivers and pres- world. Many business leaders from CSR advocate to CSR sceptic sures, it could even lead to local and stock analysts are adopting as I recently realised how little of excess valuations, or stock price the rhetoric and spirit of CSR, the current CSR literature has fo- bubbles. So, what we typically which now comes in more than cused on the dysfunctions of regard as “socially responsible” thirty different guises or defini- CSR. My changing perspective is corporate practice could also be tions: sustainability, triple bot- partially based on a model that I considered irresponsible when tom line, corporate citizenship, introduced in the latest issue viewed from a broader economic stakeholder management, stra- perspective—a behavioural fi- tegic philanthropy, shared value “Over the nance perspective—because CSR creation, etc. This is under- is, inherently, creating noise standable; for who does not years and for (rather than information) in eq- want to be considered a socially various uity markets. and environmentally responsi- reasons, I ble actor? In other words, CSR Marc Orlitzky has a certain social desirability have turned The article's full reference is: Or- behind it. In addition, there is a from CSR litzky, M. (2013). Corporate so- growing conviction among many advocate to cial responsibility, noise, and managers (and investors) that CSR sceptic .” stock market volatility. Academy CSR will ultimately pay off eco- of Management Perspectives, 27 nomically—if the rhetoric is (3), 238-254. doi:10.5465/ to be believed. of Academy of Management Per- amp.2012.0097 spectives. The causal model However, whenever true believ- More details about my research shows that the long-term impact ers embrace management fads program on corporate social re- of the increasingly globalised and and fashions uncritically and/or sponsibility and performance are standardised CSR movement may superficially, the unintended available from: http:// be quite harmful because CSR negative consequences of marcorlitzky.webs.com/ tends to make stock markets those institutional decisions biopapers.htm

Call for chapters: International Business Ethics and Growth Opportunities

The Advances in Business Strategy and Competi- http://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for- tive Advantage (ABSCA) Book Series is a timely papers/call-details/1092 series responding to the high demand for state-of- Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded the-art research on how business strategies are created, implemented and re-designed to meet electronically (Word document): the demands of globalized competitive markets. Theodora Issa With a focus on local and global challenges, busi- School of Management, Curtin Business ness opportunities and the needs of society, School, GPO Box U1987, Perth WA 6845 the ABSCA encourages scientific discourse on Australia, Fax: + +61 8 9266 7897 doing business and managing information tech- [email protected] nologies for the creation of sustainable competi- or Ruth Wolf, Ph.D. tive advantage. [email protected] Contact: AAPAE c/o School of History & Philosophy The broad purpose of the AAPAE is to en- University of courage awareness of, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. and foster discussion of issues in, applied Ph: (02) 9385 2320 and professional eth- Email: [email protected] ics. It provides a meeting point for prac- Web: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/aapae/ titioners from various fields and academics A A P A E 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 E X E C UTIVE COMMITTEE with specialist exper- tise and welcomes everyone who wants or President:: Hugh Breakey Michael Schwartz needs to think and talk Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Economics, Finance & Marketing, about applied or pro- Institute for Ethics, Governance and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, fessional ethics. Law, Griffith University, QLD. Phone: (03) 9925-5515 [email protected] [email protected] The AAPAE fosters and Vice President: Marc Orlitzky Joseph Naimo publishes research in School of Management, University of School of Philosophy & Theology applied and profes- South Australia, SA University of Notre Dame sional ethics as well Fremantle, WA [email protected] as attempting to cre- [email protected] ate connections with

Treasurer: Kay Plummer special interest School of Accounting, Charles Sturt Allan Tapper groups. The AAPAE University, Research Fellow, does not endorse any Phone: (02) 6338-4447 John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, particular viewpoint, [email protected] Phone: (08) 9306-2208 but rather aims to pro- [email protected] mote a climate in Secretary: Peter Bowden which different and Department of Philosophy Conference Convenor: Sandra Lynch differing views, con- University of Sydney Director, Centre for Faith, Ethics & Society cerns, and approaches Phone: 0418 166 577 School of Philosophy and Theology can be expressed and [email protected] University of Notre Dame, Sydney. discussed.

[email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBERS Howard Harris Past President: Stephen Cohen Australian Ethics is pub- School of Management, School of Humanities lished by the AAPAE: University of South Australia, Phone: (08) 8302-0748 Fax: (08) University of New South Wales, Sydney, ABN: 57 195 873 179. 8302-0512 Phone: (02) 9385-2320 [email protected] [email protected]