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The Virtuous Republic, Part 3: What is a Virtuous Government?
Abstract: We have a problem, one that affects all Americans, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. Trust in government is at historic lows, yet reelection rates in the House of Representatives is approximately 97% and over 90% for the Senate. I suspect this problem is symptomatic of two problems: we are losing the republic and we have nearly lost our sense of and understanding of virtue. This blog looks at the second problem: virtue in government. It develops a virtue assessment framework based on Plato’s The Republic, as discussed in Part 2 of this series and extended to reflect modern society. This draft uses measures with publicly…
The Virtuous Republic Part 2: What is the Best Form of Government to Secure Truth, Justice, Happiness and Free Society
Abstract: What is the optimal form of government to secure truth, justice, and happiness for citizens? I strongly suspect that the founders of the US Republic read Plato and Roman sources and were familiar with Plato’s concerns about democracy. They…
The Virtuous Republic, Part 1: What can we Learn From Attempts at Utopian SocietiesThe Virtuous Republic, Part 1: What can we Learn From Attempts at Utopian Societies
Abstract: History is littered with the remains of broken attempts at utopian societies. To the best of my knowledge, most have failed for one major reason. They rely on virtue, but do not build it into their societies. Utopian leaders…
Virtue-based Leadership, Part 6: Leader Selection and Assessment
Abstract: This part is derived from a chapter from my book, Thrive in the Age Knowledge. Leader selection and assessment is a critical leader task. Unfortunately, it is often based on technical skills or dominated by an HR process that…
Virtue-based Leadership, Part 5: Competency, Candor, and Virtue
Abstract: Is leadership a process? Processes have inputs and actions/activities that produce outputs. In virtue-based leadership, the inputs are Virtue, Competency, and Candor. The outputs are Integrity, Truth, and Trust. Table 1 in the body below provides key aspects of…
Virtue-based Leadership, Part 4: Virtue, Morality, and Ethics
Abstract: While there are similarities and crossovers between morality, ethics, and virtue, they are not the same. For me, at least, morality is essentially based on operant conditioning—reward and punishment. Ethics are based on rules and systems. Both are…
Virtue-Based Leadership: Part 3 Moral Development and Education
Abstract: We live in a society and time that seems very fluid regarding moral and ethical standards and conduct. This is especially true for people on the polar extremes of the left/right divide, but affects all of us. To make…
Virtue-Based Leadership: Part 2, Discernment
Abstract: Discernment is perhaps one of the most important, but least studied and written about leadership skills. It is especially important for virtue-based leadership, which requires leaders to consider moral aspects of decisions. Discernment goes beyond the judgment discussed in…
Virtue-Based Leadership, Part 1
Abstract: During my doctorate in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt, there were a few readings and discussions over whether there is even such a thing as a “leader” or “leadership”. This is related to the discussion over whether…
A Solutions-based Approach to Social Justice
The glowing horseshoe in the figure above is at the optimal point Matt Haig discusses in How to Stop Time. This optimal point exists in many things. Not enough of the independent variable and the dependent variable is not maximized.…
The Grand Inquisitor on the Nature of Man: Totalitarian vs. Liberty
But it is Thyself Thou hast to thank. Under our rule and sway all will be happy, and will neither rebel nor destroy each other as they did while under Thy free banner. Oh, we will take good care to…
