Case Analysis

Six Pillars of Character Outline

I. First Pillar of Character: Trustworthiness — Able to be relied on; people believe in us

A. Honesty — Honesty in all communications; avoiding misrepresentations, deceptions,

and other dishonest behavior

1. Honesty in Communication — Good faith intent to convey the truth

a. Truthfulness (S) — Not lying

(1) Ignore “(S)” for now; will explain later.

b. Sincerity (S) — Precludes half-truths, out of context statements, silence

that leaves impressions that are untrue

c. Candor (S) — In relationships of trust, must volunteer information

(1) Discuss how this relates to Confucius’ levels of honesty on pp 60-61.

2. Honesty in Conduct (S) — Avoiding dishonest conduct such as embezzlement,

theft, etc.

a. Actions versus communication.

B. Integrity (S) — Consistency between our stated values and behavior; demonstrating

the courage to do the right thing regardless of the costs (a.k.a. moral courage)

1. Consistency and courage are the keys to integrity.

2. It is one of the most important and often cited terms regarding virtue, and it

refers to being whole, sound, and in an unimpaired condition. In an

organization, it means uncompromising adherence to ethical values – p.63.

C. Reliability/Promise Keeping (S) — Keeping our promises and commitments

1. Commitments are something special so be careful which promises you make

2. Avoid bad faith excuses, unwise commitments, and unclear commitments

D. Loyalty (S) — A special moral responsibility to promote and protect the interests of

certain people, organizations, etc.

1. Loyalty requires that we not only demonstrate loyalty but also be worthy of

loyalty

a. Loyalty is reciprocal — No one has the right to ask another to be unethical

by being loyal

2. Conflicting loyalties must be prioritized

II. Second Pillar of Character: Respect — Display of regard for the worth of people

A. Golden Rule (S) — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

B. Civility, Courtesy and Decency (S) — Treating others with consideration; do not

intimidate, coerce; punish in limited situations

C. Dignity (S) — Self-respect

D. Autonomy (S) — Exercise authority in a way that provides others with information

they need

E. Tolerance and Acceptance (S) — Accepting individual differences and beliefs

without prejudice; judge others only on the content of their behavior

III. Third Pillar of Character: Responsibility — Being in charge of our choices and thus our

lives

A. Accountability (S) — Being accountable for our choices; not shifting blame

B. Pursuit of Excellence

1. Diligence (S) — Doing one’s best

2. Perseverance (S) — Finish what you start

3. Continuous Improvement (S) — Striving to better oneself

C. Self-Restraint (S) — Responsible people exercise self-control, restraining passions

(lust, hatred, fear) for sake of reason and to set a good example

IV. Fourth Pillar of Character: Fairness — A range of morally justifiable outcomes based on

openness, consistency, and impartiality

A. Process (S) — We do not wait for the truth to come to us; we seek out relevant

information and conflicting perspectives before making important judgments.

B. Impartiality (S) — Rules are applied equally among every human being involved or

affected — no matter who the human being is — or what his or her relationship is

with the person administering the rules

C. Equity (S) — Mistakes are corrected promptly and voluntarily; ignorance or weakness

are not excuses for taking advantage of others

V. Fifth Pillar of Character: Caring — The heart of ethics; concern for the welfare of others

A. Kindness (S) — Warmhearted, considerate, humane, forgiving

B. Compassion (S) — Sympathy for others

C. Empathy (S) — Understanding and entering into another’s feelings

VI. Sixth Pillar of Character: Citizenship — Civic virtues and duties that prescribe how we

ought to behave as part of a community

A. Lawfulness (S) — Obeying laws and regulations; working to improve them

B. Common Good (S) — We are part of a community of human beings, not just for

ourselves, our own lives, and our own generations

C. Volunteering (S) — Sharing some of our life by investing time to help our community