AUSTRALIAN

DECEMBER, 2011

AUSTRALIAN

APPLIED ETHICS ASSOCIAITON FOR

PROFSSIONAL AND PRESIDENT’S REPORT B Y BETTY CHAAR E T H I C S : APPLIED AND Dear AAPAE members and collaborations. PROFESSIONAL It was cold and miserable outside; the On leadership in particular, Barbara  Business unrelenting rain pounding the streets excelled. She reflected and elabo-  Education and the cold wind whipping through our rated on a number of quotes, for ex-  Engineering hair. On the inside however, there was ample: “The first job of leadership is  Environment warmth and friendliness, cohesiveness to inspire” (Covey Jnr); and:  Law and camaraderie. And we had a won- “Management is about doing things  Medical derful time. right, leadership is about doing the  Nursing th right things” (Drucker).  Police Of course I am referring to the 18 An-  Public Policy nual AAPAE conference I was personally inspired “She smashed  Public Sector convened by Dr Leila by Barbara Etter‟s pres-  Social Work Toiviainen at the University through glass ceil- entation, and found it  Teaching of Tasmania‟s School of ings, but walked on most helpful in my own , in June 2011. broken glass for a choice to step up to take The Keynote speeches long while…” the role of President of INSIDE THIS ISSUE: and presentations deliv- the AAPAE. Michael ered at this conference were all out- Schwartz, our immediate past Presi- PRESIDENT’S 1 standing, but two stand out in my mem- dent is a role model of leadership and REPORT ory for two totally different reasons. integrity, with personal traits that UPCOMING 2012 make him a warm, reliable, trustwor- 2 The first of these two was delivered by AAPAE CONFER- thy and wise leader. Those are the ENCE Ms Barbara Etter CEO of the Tasma- characteristics I aspire to, but this DEVELOPING 4 nian Integrity Commission. Barbara was no easy task I set myself! CURRICULA IN started off her illustrious career as a ETHICS pharmacist, (and no, this is not the only The second memorable Keynote reason her talk was memorable to me, speaker was Mr Kiros Hiruy, who LAWYER’S CODE 5 OF CONDUCT IN although a start!), and moved on talked to us about „People of African VIETNAM to engage in work with forensics, cor- Descent – the moral ’. Kiros onial inquests and drug squads. As a relayed to us his own journey to Aus- CONFERENCE 7 REPORTS woman in a male dominated field in tralia, and his initiation to the “lucky those days, in her words she: country”. It was sad; in fact heart “smashed through glass ceilings, but wrenching, to hear what he had to BOOKS: NOTES 8 AND REVIEWS walked on broken glass for a long say in his factual non-emotive way. while…” Barbara captivated us with her His softly spoken argument could talk about leadership, empowerment move mountains. AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 2

The 19TH ANNUAL AAPAE CONFERENCE Mark Your Ethics,Ethics, ValuesValues andand CivilCivil Diaries!! SocietySociety Thursday 28th June — Sunday 1st July, 2012 St John‘s College, University of Queensland, Brisbane.

The 2012 Conference of the AA- PAE will be a residential conference and will The 2012 AAPAE Conference Convener is Rev. be held at St John's College, the University of Prof. John Morgan, St John's College, the Uni- Queensland, running from Thursday evening, versity of Queensland. 28 June until Sunday lunchtime 1 July. [email protected] Please feel free to email with any queries about the con- Located within the University of Queensland ference or paper presentation. campus, St John's College provides both a beautiful and practical conference location. Website and Booking Details will be in place early in January. Close to transport and the CBD, and with the added convenience of on-site accommodation, we are certain the College will provide you with an enjoyable stay.

Whilst other states will be in the midst of cold winters come conference time, Brisbane in June is blessed with mild temperatures and mostly clear skies. We will make the most of this weather with a boat cruise down the Brisbane River on board the famous Kookaburra Queen. The cruise offers passengers a unique and memorable view of Brisbane, whilst enjoying a delicious meal.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT (CONT’D)

As he left the lecture theatre I for sharing with us these pre- So, that was an excerpt of the gently caught his arm to detain cious words: wonderful time we had in Hobart, him. I thanked him for a mo- for which we thank Leila and her Racism: It’s in the Way mentous speech and asked him team profusely, and a taste of for the reference to the poetry It‟s in the way you patronize perhaps even more engaging, he read out during that speech. soul searching ethical delibera- The way you avert your eyes Kiros promptly tore it from his tions at our next upcoming con- notes and handed it to me…and The way that you cannot dis- ference to be convened in Bris- I read it out again that evening guise bane by Rev Professor John Mor- at the conference dinner, so gan at the St John‟s College of Your looks of horror and sur- moved was I by the words. the University of Queensland. prise. Some poetry, most in fact, is Betty Chaar, universal in application, which is It‟s the assumptions that you why it is such an eloquent man- make University of Sydney ner to reach out to touch peo- On my behalf, and for my sake ple‟s heartstrings. The piece was written by Andrea Cork, And in the way you do not hear and captures the essence of The things we tell you loud and racism, and I thank Kiros Hiruy clear…. AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 3

Call for Papers! Special Offer! - Registra- tion Fees for Academics 2012 CONFERENCE OVERVIEW This conference offers a The overall aim of the AAPAE is to increase awareness and encourage registration fee for aca- discussion about the issues in . This conference will focus demics that will include on the ethical concerns within and around civil society; a sector distinct (along with satchel, lan- yard, program, CD of pres- from government and epitomised by non-profit organizations, though entations and catering): potentially encompassing aspects of business. The concept of civil soci- ety alone already faces ethical questions in terms of defining those or- One free registration for ganisations which should be considered to make up this sector. Within one of your students as a civil society too there are ethical issues when looking at the structure of bonus to encourage younger generations to organisations, participation within the organisation, and said organisa- attend and participate in tion's interaction with outside influences. For more on the concept and this conference. practice of civil society please visit the Civil Society International home- (Accommodation = extra) page: http://www.civilsoc.org/

Call for Papers: ence Convenor by 28th April 2012. An invitation to submit Book Review Session We welcome all newcomers and the manuscript to the AJPAE encourage papers/research en- Submissions for this session may be will follow after the conference deavours to be presented. Papers made by an author or others for a ses- are welcome from both academics proceedings. sion which will critically evaluate a recent book centred around ethical and practitioners in all areas of Non-refereed track papers issues facing civil society. The pro- professional and applied ethics. should be proposed by way of posal review can be in the form of a The conference theme is open to an abstract of approximately panel, including formal papers, or a interpretation by presenters. You 250 words to the Conference roundtable discussion. The submission do not need to be a member of the Convenor by 28th April 2012. should indicate the title of the book Association to make a submission. Presenters in this category and date of publication as well as all should clarify that their paper the panelists if applicable. A copy of This will also provide an opportu- is intended for the non- the book must be submitted for re- nity for publication in the AJPAE if refereed stream in the Subject view. you wish to pursue peer reviewed Line of the email submission publication with the formal journal The deadline for submission of a pro- of the AAPAE. Feedback and cri- of their abstract. posal for a Book Review Session is tique of the work presented at the 28th April 2012. conference will be provided which Keynotes can then help to shape a better submission for peer review. Professor Daniel E Wueste, The conference will have both a Director of the Rutland Centre for Ethics at Clemson University, refereed and a non-refereed Florida, and President of the Society for Ethics Across the Curricu- stream lum Refereed track papers are to be Dr. Wueste‘s research and writing focus on issues in three areas: submitted consistent with Austra- legal philosophy, social and , and professional lian Journal of Professional and ethics. Wueste has a special interest in what ethicists can learn Applied Ethics author guidelines. from legal philosophers and vice versa. He is the editor of Profes- Abstracts and full papers from the sional Ethics and Social Responsibility (Rowman and Littlefield, refereed track will be published in a Conference Proceedings CD. Au- 1994). thors should submit a short biogra- Professor Wueste is an ex officio member of the Advisory Council of phy of no more than 100 words the Center for Academic Integrity, formerly at Duke University, which and an abstract of no more than is now part of the Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson University. 200 words with their paper. Pa- (Professor Wueste‘s visit to Australia is funded by UniSA) pers for this track must be no more than 5000 words, and should be submitted to the Confer- Further Keynotes will be confirmed soon! AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 4

Ethics in Creative Industries and Complementary Medicine By Emma Rush

Would you expect a graphic designer to have an under- ment, for offer in both standing of what requires of them? What about a pho- internal and distance tographer? A naturopath? A massage therapist? mode for the first time in semester 2 of 2012. It will be taken by under- The deeper and more general question massage therapy, acupuncture, and graduate students in acting, anima- behind these specific ones is whether so on), have usually practised for tion and visual effects, design for university-educated practitioners some time, and are seeking con- theatre and television, television within such ‗new‘ professions should tinuing professional development. production, media communication, be expected both to understand and They found the subject ‗thought , graphic design, jewel- to practise the relevant professional provoking and at times, challeng- lery, and fashion design and tech- ethics. ing‘, ‗timely and topically relevant‘, nology. Many of these students have limited industry experience, so Let‘s take a few steps back. The his- ‗very beneficial to [my] understand- much will turn on the quality and torical development of professions has ing of ethics in practice‘, and best of all, ‗enjoyable‘ and even ‗fun‘. practice-relevance of the scenarios been characterised by the develop- and case studies we are able to ment of more formal technical training The ethics section of the syllabus incorporated a week on each of the provide them. I will report on the for practitioners, resulting in the intro- results of these endeavours here in duction of a range of new disciplines four principles of health ethics, with into universities. As part of the same readings and questions designed to due course! process, we have frequently seen encourage students to share and My explorations to date suggest more formal articulation of profes- reflect upon their that there are still sional ethics coming from within newly experiences. The “The question has many gaps in the ethics professionalised areas of practice. A question has been in both of question therefore arises about raised in the com- been raised whether these professional/ whether the technical excellence that plementary medi- such principles are disciplinary areas university curriculums aim to develop cine ethics litera- (complementary medi- is properly matched by an adequate ture whether such equally relevant to cine and creative in- principles are dustries), so I‘d be de- grounding for practitioners-to-be (i.e. complementary students) to meet the ethical aspira- equally relevant to lighted to hear from complementary tions of their profession. medicine as they are anyone else working in medicine as they these areas who might As befits an institution which strives are to conventional to conventional be interested in future for excellence in education for the pro- medicine (Stone, research collaboration. fessions, Charles Sturt University has 2005, pp.95-96). medicine.‖ been asking such questions about its My own view, bol- Dr Emma Rush professional courses. Thus, I am cur- stered by my experience with the Lecturer in Philosophy and Ethics rently involved in the development of students, is that they certainly are. Charles Sturt University two new undergraduate subjects: Le- A further week contrasted the ad- gal and Ethical Issues in Complemen- vantages and disadvantages of [email protected] tary Medicine and Ethics and Law for three major ethical theories Australian Health Ministers’ Advi- Creative Industries. (deontology, , and sory Council (AHMAC), 2011 Legal and Ethical Issues in Comple- ethics) and students re- (February). Consultation paper: Op- mentary Medicine was offered in dis- flected on the influence of each tions for regulation of unregistered tance mode for the first time in Se- theory in their own ethical decision- health practitioners. Available from: mester 2 2011, and was very well re- making processes. Finally, during http://www.ahmac.gov.au/site/ ceived by students in the Bachelor of the week linking the ethics to the home.aspx (accessed 2 December, Health Sciences law part of the subject, students 2011). (Complementary wrestled with the broader question Stone, J. 2005. Ethics in complemen- Medicine). These of ethical policy-making: how should tary and alternative medicine, pp.83- students already complementary medicine be regu- 110 in Heller, T. (ed.) Perspectives hold a qualification lated, and why? (AHMAC, 2011) on complementary and alternative in their specific mo- Ethics and Law for Creative Indus- medicine. Routledge: United King- dality (naturopathy, tries is currently under develop- dom. AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 5

Report: Code of Conduct and Ethics for Vietnamese

Lawyers Roderick O‘Brien offices, using their In mid 2011, Vietnam Bar Federa- www.hoiluatgiavn.org.vn/ personal relationships tion issued the Code of Conduct content/view/39/98/ as the key, and the Code seeks to and Ethics for Vietnamese Lawyers lang,english/] make it more difficult for the client to [attachment to Decision No 68/QD identify lawyers on this basis. -LDLSVN 20 July 2011]. The Em- 2. The Code covers conventional bassy of Denmark has kindly pro- areas of practice, including issues 5. While the Code does provide for vided me with an English transla- which would be familiar to lawyers confidentiality, there is no provision for tion of the Code. The Code is rela- in other jurisdictions: attorney-client privilege. tively straightforward, with twenty- The provision of legal aid (the seven rules, most of which are level of commitment is not speci- 6. The Code of Conduct and Ethics rather general in nature. The Code fied); does not provide for enforcement. This amplifies the provisions in the Relationship with the client is the responsibility of the local Bar 2007 Law on Lawyers [No. (including fees, refusal to take a Associations 65 /2006/QH11]. case or withdrawal, and conflicts ―The roles of the under article 85.2 of the Law of interest); state and the 1. The Code situates the lawyer Relationship with colleagues on Lawyers: and the law practice organisations (including competition, and Communist Party ―The considera- (e.g. law firms) in a political con- trainee lawyers); raise difficult is- tion and deci- sion on disci- text. Rule 1 states that ―The lawyer Relationship with sues for lawyers has a duty to be loyal to the Father- ―Proceeding Agencies‖ [courts] plining lawyers land. Through professional activi- including collusion, behaviour in who wish to prac- shall be the ties, the lawyer contributes to pro- court, and evidence); tice with profes- competence the Board of Man- tection of , development of a Relationship with other gov- sional and ethical rule-of-law state in accordance ernment agencies (including agement of the with the Constitution and the complaint and denunciation pro- independence.‖ Bar Association laws.‖ This political orientation is ceedings); and at the request developed in rule 24.5, whereby Relationship with the mass of the Reward and Discipline Council of the lawyer is prohibited from media. that Bar Association‖. The grounds for [taking] ―advantage of being a per- disbarment may be a cause for con- son participating in proceedings at 3. A clear concern of the Code is cern, as in the August 2011 case of court according to the laws to the use of intermediaries to influ- human-rights lawyer Huynh Van Dong speak out words affecting the na- ence parties to litigious or non- who has taken prominent cases for tional interests, social interests, litigious cases. The use of interme- protestors and other dissidents. the people‘s solidarity, religion or diaries (touts) to gain business and [http://www.observatoire-avocats.org/ disseminating illegal and unethical the use of intermediaries to col- en/2011/08/19/huynh-van-dong-a- viewpoints.‖ The Code simply re- lude with court officials or with vietnamese-lawyer-arbitrarily-disbarred- peats in another way the provi- state agencies are prohibited con- by-his-bar-association/] sions of Article 9.1(g) of the Law on duct. Corruption is an issue of Lawyers: ―Abusing the legal prac- great concern in Vietnam, which The gradual establishment of a legal tice and/or lawyer‘s capacity to rates 116 out of 178 in the Trans- profession, and the enactment of provi- cause adverse impact on the na- parency International Corruption sions such as the Law on Lawyers and tional security and/or public order Perceptions Index of 2010. the Code of Conduct and Ethics, can be or safety, or to infringe upon inter- regarded as positive steps on the way ests of the State, the public or le- 4. One of the prohibited behav- to establishment of a rule-of-law state gitimate rights and interests of iours under rule 14.9 is to ―directly in Vietnam. Perhaps a profession will agencies, organizations or individu- inform the client of the lawyer‘s emerge which can be effective, profes- als.‖ personal relation with proceeding sional, and ethical. Or perhaps the The roles of the state and the Com- agencies, persons in charge of laws and the Code will be simply a fa- munist Party raise difficult issues proceedings or authorized state çade. The Vietnamese government has for lawyers who wish to practice officials in order to create the cli- announced that its judicial reform in- with professional and ethical inde- ent‘s confidence on the work re- cludes strategic goals of rapid expan- pendence. The Vietnamese Law- sults as a criteria for choosing the sion and professionalization for the yers Association is specifically or- lawyer by the client.‖ This rule sug- Vietnamese bar by 2020. The date is ganized under the ―Fatherland gests that clients will expect law- not so far off. Front‖ which controls non- yers to be able to ‗enter the back government organizations. [http:// door‘ of courts and government Roderick O‘Brien AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 6

A Return to EBEN University of Antwerp, September, 2011 Conference Report by Michael Segon

University of Antwerp. and its conference is amongst From the mid 1990s through to 2002 the top two or three such events The Conference had five main I was a regular attendee and member on the ethics calendar. The atten- themes of Educa- of the European Business Ethics Net- dees at EBEN events commonly tion, Whistle Blowing, Virtue in Busi- work and its annual conferences - include some of the leading ethi- ness and Management, Continental including a very subdued 2001 cists and philosophers from Philosophy and business Ethics and held in Valencia across the tragic across the globe and one of the a debate workshop on the difficult events of 9/11. advantages of the EBEN event is interaction between caring and HR. its relatively informal nature that EBEN is the premier association for Over two and a half days over 100 allows frank discourse between applied and professional ethics papers were delivered across paral- participants, and this year‘s event across the expanding European Union lel and plenary sessions. Whilst it and its conferences bring together a was no exception. was impossible to attend all ses- diverse range of academics As with most academic confer- sions, it became clear and practitioners that al- ences the importance of research ―One of the ad- that our European most give it a multi- output was also evident with sev- vantages of the colleagues face many disciplinary feel. Importantly eral journals and publishers, in- of the same issues the network includes con- EBEN event is its cluding the Journal of Business that we do in the Aus- sultants and practitioners relatively informal Ethics having a strong presence tralasian context. who mix with ethicists and nature that allows in addition to numerous notices These include the philosophers addressing the frank discourse and calls for other conferences difficulties of integrat- challenges of academia, between partici- ing ethics into and and special editions. research and of applied pants, and this across the business The 25th Annual Conference will ethics within the education, year‘s event was and professional cur- be held in Barcelona, Spain from business and public sector no exception.‖ ricula in addition to the 19-22nd September, 2012. communities. challenges of applying EBEN also organizes a somewhat After a ten year absence I ethics to the business more focused research confer- was able to attend the 24th Annual and public sectors. These are per- ence each year typically in June EBEN conference held in the Univer- haps even more pertinent in the hosted by one of the EBEN chap- sity of Antwerp in Belgium from 15- European Union amidst the finan- ters, (EU member country net- 17th September with its theme of cial crisis gripping the region. This works) and the 2012 conference ―Dare to Care - Building a caring or- was, as expected, a common point will take place in Newcastle (UK), gansiation‖ organized by Luc Van of discussion amongst many the June 7-9. Liedekerke from the centre for Ethics, delegates. Whilst traveling from Australia to The social events were also fitting Europe for a two day event has its with Antwerp‘s historical context challenges, the opportunities to with an organ recital in the city‘s network with some of the world‘s magnificent gothic Roman Catholic leading scholars and practitioners Cathedral of Our Lady, which also proves more than a worthwhile houses several major art works in- experience. I would enthusiasti- cluding Peter Paul Ruben‘s, ―The cally recommend EBEN events to Raising of the Cross.― The confer- AAPAE colleagues and I certainly ence dinner was held at the re- hope that it will not be another cently restored ―Borla‖ Theatre and ten years between EBEN events. provided an opportunity for dele- gates to mingle in somewhat less Michael Segon, formal surrounds over a buffet din- ner. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. EBEN is arguably one of world‘s most prominent ethics associations AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 7

Conference Report: Australasian Business Ethics Network, CÉCILE ROZUEL (ABEN) Auckland, Dec 2 - 3 , MICHELLE GREENWOOD A year ago, the Australasian responded to the Business Ethics Network call with inspiring (ABEN) was formally estab- papers. lished as an open organisation aiming to support research that Of significant inter- addresses ethically and politi- est were sessions cally topical issues of concern dedicated to ethics and relevance to both the inter- education and the national and Australasian com- interconnection be- munity. The network held its tween ethics, busi- first annual conference in Auck- ness and public pol- land, New Zealand on Decem- icy. Other papers ber 2nd and 3rd 2011. addressed the role of spirituality late 2012 in the Australian Dr. Cécile Rozuel and her col- ―The theme of this in- Journal for Professional and leagues from Auckland Univer- augural conference Applied Ethics and the Journal sity of Technology organised of Business Ethics Education. aimed to stimulate re- the event over a day and a half. The theme of this inaugu- flection on the state of The small size of the event ral conference, ―Business Eth- business ethics re- meant that all participants had ics: Expectations and Disap- the opportunity to network and pointments‖, aimed to stimu- search and teaching, discuss at length with col- late reflection on the state of and identify ways to leagues about their research. A business ethics research and point of difference was the all teaching, and identify ways to raise moral awareness organic and fair-trade catering raise moral awareness at all at all levels of an or- which received unanimous levels of an organisation. Sub- praise. The Business and Pro- missions were invited on a ganisation.‖ fessional Ethics Journal was wide range of topics and more (re)launched at the conference than forty scholars from Austra- at work, the limitations of corpo- dinner, celebrating the journal‘s lia, New Zealand and overseas rate social responsibility and ex- new editorial direction under isting business models, ethical Mollie Painter-Morland and Pa- challenges facing fi- trica Werhane from DePaul Uni- nance and human re- versity. source management pro- fessionals, issues of cor- The next conference is sched- porate governance and uled in December 2012 in Mel- leadership, as well as bourne, and information about moral tensions in aca- ABEN will be available on the demic life. Selected pa- network‘s website: pers will be published in www.aben.org.au. AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 8 Book Notice: Applied Ethics – Strengthening Ethical Practices Peter Bowden The Australian Association for Pro- between right and wrong – a capa- problems for the whistleblower, but fessional and Applied Ethics, AA- bility that is sometimes submerged also for the institution, and some- PAE, has brought out a new book beneath our tendency to go with the times for the administrators who have on applied ethics. The book draws majority, or to place our own needs to sort out the result. The chapter on on the wide range of skills and or desires first. It is a tendency that whistleblowing examines and identi- knowledge within the Association is not assisted by the multitude of fies policies and practices that make on building ethical capabilities. often conflicting theories on moral the process effective. It also provides Coverage of the ethical issues en- behaviour that have emerged over guidelines for whistleblowers where countered across many different the centuries. Two chapters, pre- effective protection legislation and types of organisations and profes- sented by well-recognised thinkers practices have not yet been adopted. sions ensures that it is significantly in the Association, provide method- Fourth, the corporate meltdowns of more practical than any book on ologies that are widely applicable, of the previous decade and the dubious ethics currently on the market. ready benefit to, and usable by peo- ethical behaviours behind the recent Among the thirteen disciplines that ple with little or no knowledge of Global Financial Crisis have generated are examined are medicine, engi- moral theory. a near universal desire to introduce neering, business, nursing, the policies, institutions and legislation sciences, even veterinary ethics ―Among the that strengthen ethical practices in and animal welfare. Each chapter the public and private sectors. The has been researched and written thirteen disciplines increase in these agencies and prac- by a specialist in the ethical issues that are examined tices has been described as of that discipline, providing in total are medicine, ‗exponential‘. This institutionalising of an unparalleled cumulative learn- engineering, ethical behaviour is recent, and has ing experience across the ethical business, nursing, been subject to little research. The concerns of our society. the sciences, even chapter on such institutionalisation Overarching the thirteen disci- examines what has taken place so plines are examinations of five key veterinary ethics far, reaching the conclusion that issues in ethical behaviour – com- and animal these processes show strong poten- mon issues across all aspects of tial for strengthening ethical behav- moral practice within society. Their welfare.” iour. adoption is necessary if our social Fifth, one aspect of the increased and business institutions are to Second, codes of ethics are often emphasis on ethical behaviour is a behave more ethically. First and regarded as public relations docu- stronger provision of ethics teaching perhaps foremost is distinguishing ments, designed by management to in our schools, colleges and universi- present a sound ethical im- ties, and on ethics consulting and age of the organisation. They training in the work force. As the are regarded by staff, and chapters of the AAPAE book demon- often by the public, as win- strate, this training necessarily must dow dressing. The chapter on be undertaken by people with knowl- ethical codes draws on em- edge of the relevant ethical concerns pirical analyses to document in the discipline or organisation. It approaches for ensuring that needs also to encompass the many codes are effective. Foremost issues raised in the book. They are among these approaches is both tasks that are wider than most ownership – the identification discipline-based training or educa- by staff of the actual ethical tional programs in moral philosophy. issues they face, and the The chapter on ethics teaching and development and manage- training examines the possible ap- ment of their own responses. proaches that can be adopted. Third, extensive research tells us that blowing the whistle is Peter Bowden (ed.) 2012 Applied the most effective way to Ethics: Strengthening Ethical Prac- stop wrong doing. But speak- tices (Prahran: Tilde University ing out is not without diffi- Press). culty, creating above all huge AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 9

BOOK NOTICE: ARISTOT LE‘S POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR N A T U R E STEPHAN MILLETT Forms of life are dying out at an In this book, published in Oc- unprecedented rate. But what is tober, the author describes an life, what does it mean to be liv- ethic with a unique Aristotelian an immanent motive force ing and why does it matter? Does flavour that applies to all living makes each living thing inher- it matter if species die out? Does things, including humans. It ently and uniquely valuable and it matter if human domination of mounts an argument that that each member of each spe- the planet creates an impover- enters the world with the emer- cies is a repository of a unique ished world that becomes less gence of value, something that puts ex- and less habitable? Does it mat- living tinction of species into a clear ter that we behave ‗responsibly‘? things “By looking at the value framework: it matters and that every time a species becomes By going back to and his natural world individ- extinct because a unique kind idea of the motive force imma- through an ual living of value and a unique store of nent in living things, we can be- things Aristotelian lens value is gone forever. gin to develop new approaches to are both these questions. By looking at it becomes clear In the latter chapters the book the lo- the natural world through an Aris- that individual develops an ethic of responsibil- cus of totelian lens it becomes clear ity and explores the twin notions value living organisms that individual living organisms of bio-phenomenology and bio- and the are the locus of value; that each are the locus of semiotics, beginning with the prime organism has a unique value; work of Jakob von Uexküll and objects value.” and that individual living things his concept of Umwelt, which of moral are the prime objects of moral describes a sort of perceptual consid- consideration. bubble surrounding each organ- eration. It further ism as, in phenomenological argues that moral terms, it creates its own world. agents are under an Von Uexküll was a significant obligation of respon- influence on some of the key sibility toward each phenomenologists of early last living thing and that century. adopting an attitude of responsibility to By working from this bio- living things is an phenomenological view we can essential part of identify for each organism three what it means to be related niche values which, human. when identified, have the practi- cal value of assisting moral It begins by tracking agents to differentiate in value Aristotle‘s idea of the terms between organisms. As- motive force imma- sessments of these niche val- nent in living things ues (ontological niche value, (dūnamis) through semiotic niche value and the some of the signifi- widely known ecological niche cant figures in Euro- value) can be used in a sort of pean philosophy and environmental triage to make into some of the key judgments as to the practical theories of contem- worth of this or that organism in porary environmental this or that situation. philosophy. It shows that the presence of In the ethic argued for in this AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 10

BOOK REVIEW Review by Howard Moral Courage in Organizations: Doing the Right H a r r i s Thing at Work, Debra R. Comer and Gina Vega (eds) ME Sharpe, Armonk NY.

This is a book about the prac- illustrated by the positioning of courageously means we have tice of courage, showing how the chapters containing exam- chosen rightly in the face of individuals can behave coura- ples and tools between book- harm, that there are dangers of geously in the workplace. The ends, one written by Al Gini, a excess as well as of deficiency intended audience, if the char- co-founder of Business Ethics for courage, and that courage acters who appear in the exam- Quarterly and the other by Den- needs to be aimed at good. The ples and cases is anything to go nis Moberg, a former President central sections offer examples by, will be found among supervi- of the Society for Business Eth- of individuals who have acted sors and practitioners rather ics. These chapters are not un- courageously and an introduc- than on the executive floor – we duly academic, rather fit for pur- tion to a range of skills and hear from or about people who pose. Gini defines moral cour- tools that will help people to act are working as a nurse, wait- age as the readiness to endure with courage. These examples ress, OD specialist, chef, gradu- danger for the sake of principle, serve a double purpose, not ate student, carpenter, fire cap- and argues that it is neither be- only showing that courageous tain, financial analyst and junior yond our reach nor outside our behaviour is possible but also partner. reasonable aspiration. that it is needed. The balance in the volume is Moberg reminds us that acting Stephen Kohn encourages

Aristotle‘s Powers and Responsibility for Nature (Cont‘d) name index. However, despite the apparently book, humans are part of the most, if not all, others and com- difficult subject matter, the natural world and are subject to plexity is important in this envi- book is written in a style that evaluation in terms of the onto- ronmental triage because more will make it accessible to under- logical, semiotic and ecological complex organism occupy a graduates and informed lay niches they occupy, in the same greater ontological niche and readers. It is available online. way as any organism. They are have greater capacity for generat- part of, not apart from, nature (a ing and interpreting signs (a Stephan Millett is a former jour- concept that the book seeks to greater semiotic niche) and have nalist and school teacher who clarify). However, humans are a greater capacity for interacting received his PhD in Philosophy more complex organisms than in an ecological sense with the from Murdoch University. He is living world around them. an ethics specialist at Curtin Triage is, however, situa- University in Perth. tion dependent and one Millett, Stephan (2011). Aris- human life does not, for totle’s Powers and Responsibil- example, necessarily ity for Nature. Bern: Peter Lang. trump the loss of the last 303pp. Vol. 44 of the Berner of a species. Reihe philosophischer Studien. This book is based on Series editor: Dr Andreas Grae- careful scholarship and ser, Bern University. contains a detailed sub- ject index and a separate AUSTRALIAN ETHICS, D ECEMBER 2011 Page 11

Review: Moral Courage in Organizations (Cont‘d)

Howard Harris

readers to act courageously by tency in the tools and activities, rageous coalition in the organi- showing that whistleblowing and in the authors‘ confidence zation. has a critical role in the control that the tools will work. The The editors have produced a of corporate fraud. Roland book begins with an acknowl- book which focuses on the posi- Kidwell notes that moral cour- edgement that courage is often tive and which prepares its age, arising from strong ethical lacking because it involved ef- readers to confront the issues impetus is one of the six char- fort for which we were unpre- which face them rather than acteristics of social entrepre- pared and many examples give in to them and complain. neurs. He has a place for both show individuals preparing and The consistent message is that the head and the practising it is possible to do something, heart, for reason and in the face ―It tells the stories of and that this is important to us emotion, in the devel- of ex- both as individuals and as opment and display of pected the car dealer, the members or managers of or- courage. Jeffrey Mac- difficulty. ganizations. Aristotle tells us Donald writes of faith nurse on the organ Practice that virtue is learnt by example and moral courage in a can be transplant team, the and practice. Moral courage in chapter which tells the demand- Organizations provides many stories of the car ing, and social worker and examples, in sufficient depth for dealer, the nurse on as Moberg us to see what is going on, and the organ transplant the young supermar- points out provides many ideas and pro- team, the social worker ket cashier who all it is disci- and the young super- plined grams for disciplined practice. market cashier who all act courageously in practice Each chapter comes with end- act courageously in which is notes and a reference list. The standing up for a prin- standing up for a the most editors have done a commend- ciple. Gina Vega goes principle.‖ effective. able job linking ideas from back to the first Israel- The book chapter to chapter with cross- ite kings, Saul and David, to is not holding out an easy an- references. show that individuals have swer, but it is repeatedly show- Howard Harris, been yielding to the temptation ing that something can be to do nothing for centuries. done. School of Management, Univer- sity of South Australia The editors, Debra Comer and There is an emphasis on reflec- Gina Veda, describe the Per- tion as part of the preparation sonal Ethical Threshold (PET) and practice. Leslie Sekerka Moral Courage in Organiza- and include a questionnaire and her colleagues have the which can be used to establish military taking time for a reflec- tions: Doing the Right Thing one‘s individual PET score. The tive pause. Mary Gentile notes at Work, Debra R. Comer and PET is an effective way to make that taking time to reflect on Gina Vega (eds) ME Sharpe, the ideas of moral intensity and and name ethical challenges Armonk NY, situation salient to individuals. can help to prevent denial or ISBN 978 0 7656 2410 9 Typical of the practice-focussed freezing and even help us to approach of the book, the ques- reflect in advance of stress. USD39.95 tionnaire uses ten scenarios Contemplation is the first step based on actual incidents that in the contemplation- will be within the compass of observation-preparation proc- many readers. ess which Comer and Baker offer for building a morally cou- There is considerable consis- Contact: AAPAE

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