Integrity concepts and applications

Ethics and Morality: Integrity

The purpose of this work is to state what role maturity plays in ethical and integral behavior and to use an ideal husband "Lying Awake" by Mark Salzman and "Integrity" by Stephan Carter as examples. Further this paper will attempt to answer as to whether values are derived and will through use of the subject areas of family, religion and law enter into exploration of this issue. This work will further answer the question of, "What is the use of integrity and ethics? Finally, this work will give examples from each source to the contemporary world.

In the brief novel entitled "Lying Awake" the author, Mark Salzmann delves into the mind of a mystically minded Christian. This work reveals that which may happen when zealous commitment to religious matters and thus experiences collisions with the tangled, ambiguous reality between real-life and that which is illusionary. In the work entitled "Integrity" written by Stephen L. Carter it is stated that "One cannot have integrity without also displaying a measure of honesty." The Three Steps of integrity are stated as follows:

1. Take time to discern right from wrong. What do you believe? What do you value?

2. Get involved in what you believe and value ... do something about it.

3. Admit publicly what you believe and value while acting on what you say.

The author, Stephen L. Carter states that,

"A person of integrity lurks somewhere inside each of us: " A person of integrity lurks somewhere inside each of us: a person we feel we can trust to do right, to play by the rules, to keep commitments."

I. Where are our values derived?

Values can be said to be derived from elements related to those moralistic teachings by parents, community and churches and further values are derived through a type of intellectual osmosis from those who are close and important in the life of an individual. In the case of Sister John, it is clearly seen that she formed her values and principles with the basis for belief being those thing purported spiritually by her teacher.

II. Values in Relation to Family

Family values are beliefs and principles held within the family unit generation after generation and are an integral part of the derivative of values for the individual. Carter addresses marriage in the work "Integrity" acknowledging that a person of integrity must, struggle long and hard against the temptations that would lead to failure in marriage. Carter puzzles for a spell on the subject of abortion and argues that getting over the tendency to view it as our most important political issue domestically Carter writes that:

'It is shameful that so many otherwise principled liberals and conservatives have made abortion a litmus test of genuine commitment. Carter somewhat avoids the subject of family matters and complete avoids institutional effects upon the shaping of character.

III. Values in Relation to Law

Carter (1996) addresses the subject area of law in relation to individual value and principle development in the individual. Salzman (2001)

IV. Values in Relation to Religion

Salzman addresses this realm of value formation as he tells the story of Sister John, a cloistered nun who has experienced divine visions which are followed by an extremely excruciating headache. It is discovered that this nun in actuality has a brain tumor which is probably causing the visions. Sister John has to make the difficult decision whether to risk herself and continue receiving visions knowing all the while they may be false and as well to do so may even cost her very life. Her 'visitations' with God were influenced by her value and belief system that underwent its' formation under the tutelage of her teacher at the convent.

V. The Importance of Integrity and Ethics

The importances of integrity and of ethics are clear themes in both the work of Salzman (2001) and Carter (1996). Without the critical factor of integrity throughout this would have been a much duller work and would have carried much less import for the individual's perusal. Integrity is what the individual's word is actually worth and is a measure by which an individual might be judged as to their character.

VI. Examples of The Source Material

Sister John literally takes upon herself the literal burden borne by Christ as she begins her day and "dropped to her knees on the floor of her cell, and offered the day to God .[praying]: "Let these clothes remind me of my consecration to this life of enclosure, silence, and solitude. It is interesting that the 'mystical' life of Carmel resided in mundane everyday things and indeed within that everyday realm was the discovery of things so special. Salzman writes,