Ethics - Means ?

Ethics - What does it mean ?

As per http://m-w.com/dictionary/ethics
2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group c : a guiding philosophy d : a consciousness of moral importance 3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness)
Stephen Covey talks about two broad categories of ethics; Character Ethics and Personailty Ethics.


The character Ethics taught that there are basic principles of effective living and the people can experience only true success and enduring happiness as they learn and integrate these principles in their basic character.

As per the personality ethic, success became more as a function of personality, of public image, of attitudes and behaviours, skills and techniques, that lubricate the processes of Human Interaction.The personality approach is clearly manipulative, even deceptive, encouraging people to use "techniqueues" to get other people to like them or to fake interest in others to get out of them what they wanted or to use the "power look" or to use intimidate their way through life.

If one tries to use Human influence strategies and tactics of how to get other people to do what he/she wants, to work better, to be more motivated , to like him/her and eachother - while his/her character is fundementally flawed, marked by duplicity and insincerity - then in the long run he/she cannot be successfull.

Their duplicity will breed distrust and everything they do - even using so-called good Human relation techniques - will be perceived as manipulative. It simply makes no difference how good the rhetoric is or even how good the intentions are; if there is little or no trust, there is no foundation for permanent success. Only basic goodness gives life to "technique".

However we cannot altogether discard the elements of personality ethic - personality growth, communication skill training, and education in the field of influence strategies and positive thinking. They are sometimes essential for success. But one should realise that they are only secondary traits not primary traits.

In utilising the Human capacity to build on the foundation of generations before us, we have inadvertently become so focussed on our own building that we have happily forgotten the "foundation" that holds it up.

In most one-shot or short-lived Human Interactions, you can use the personality ethic to get by and to make favourable impressions through charm and skill and pretending to be interested in others hobbies. You can pickup quick, easy techniques that may work in short-term situations, But secondary traits alone have no permanent worth in long-term relationships.

Eventually if there isn't deep integrity and fundamental character strength, the challenges of life will cause the true motives to surface and human relationship failure will replace any short-term success.

In short what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.


(Extracts from "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey).