Is Integrity a Virtue?

By

Douglas Ross

“Is integrity a virtue?” asked Susan.

“I think so.” I replied as I took a bite of my sandwich.

“Is integrity a religious or secular virtue?” she continued.

“I don’t know.” I mused, “Why is that important? “

“It will help you discern the role of integrity in business” she answered.

First, I had to find out what a virtue was.

Virtues, I found out, are generally defined as moral goodness. Moral, I knew, was the idea of right thinking and action. That which promotes individual and collective well being is included in the definition of goodness.

For example, justice is a virtue. Justice is proper judgment in human interests, rights and obligations. Justice differentiates between right and wrong. It exists for the individual and collective good of all. The legal system is founded on the virtue of justice.  

Virtues are also defined by the excellence they bring to life. Virtues have emerged from ancient times as proven methodologies to successful deal with the confusion and challenges of humankind.

Virtues are enduring qualities that span the breadth and depth of human history.  

In ancient Greek, virtues are called “habitual excellence.”  Habitual excellence is something morally good that is practiced in all times, in every place. It points to the universal and objective nature of virtues.

Virtues then are the exemplar that everyone can use to successfully navigate life’s problems –no matter who you are or how big or small the trial.      

For example, the virtue of courage is evident throughout human history. Courage is the ability to confront fear and uncertainty that any person can access. In times of trial, the habitual use of courage by one benefits the many.

The opposite of virtue is vice. A vice is an immoral poverty which exists due to the absence of right thinking and action. A vice promotes the individual good at the expense of the collective good. Vices are identified not by their habitual excellence but by their “habitual use” leading to dependency and decay.

Integrity, I concluded, is a virtue. Integrity is wholeness, consistency, and objectivity. Individual and collective good is requisite for wholeness. Habitual excellence is consistency. The discernment required for right thinking and action is objectivity. 

But is integrity a religious virtue or a secular virtue?

To answer this question, we must look within at the major virtues within the religions of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. 

Buddhism has four major virtues: loving kindness, compassion, altruistic joy and equanimity (learning to accept to accept both the good and bad within everything.)  The Noble Eightfold path could be considered as auxiliary or what I have called “habitual excellence” virtues. The following are these virtues with a short description

1. Right view: The acceptance of the 4 Noble Truths (Life means suffering, the origin of suffering is attachment, the cessation of suffering is attainable, and there is a path to end suffering.)
2. Right intention: A commitment to moderation in progress. 
3. Right speech: One speaks in a truthful non-hurtful way.
4. Right action: One avoids actions that do harm.
5. Right livelihood: One’s job does not harm oneself or others.
6. Right effort: One makes an effort to improve.
7. Right mindfulness: One is able to see reality clearly.
8. Right concentration: One’s mind is wholesome and singular.

There is no mention of integrity here. So, on the surface it would appear that integrity is a not an identified virtue in Buddhism.

Christian theology has clearly defined seven major virtues. They are justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope and charity. Christianity has also adopted seven habitual excellence virtues that support the acquisition of major virtues. These are chastity, abstinence, liberality, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility.

Surprisingly, integrity is not an identified virtue in Christianity.

Hinduism holds that moral duty is the key virtue. This virtue is supported by many habitual excellence virtues such as moderation, honesty, cleanliness, tolerance, peace, non-violence and respect.

Again there is no direct mention of integrity in Hinduism.

The major virtues of Islam are submission and compassion. The list of habitual excellence virtues is long and includes repentance, honesty, loyalty, prudence, moderation, self restraint, generosity and contentment to name just a few. 

Again there is no mention of integrity as a virtue in Islam.

Although this is a brief and superficial overview of virtues in world religions, it would appear that integrity is not an identified virtue in any of these four religions.  

To verify this surprising observation, I looked up integrity up in the New Living Translation of the Christian Bible. Integrity appears less than ten times and never in the New Testament.

Accordingly, it can be argued that integrity is a secular virtue. Integrity then is, as so many have said, a starting point for excellence that is not limited to spiritual or sacred doctrines.

 “Integrity is the essence of everything successful” –Buckminster Fuller

 

Douglas Ross is a writer, speaker, consultant and educator.He is President of Principle Dynamics. He is an an outspoken advocate for the advancement of integrity in business and society because results do come from integrity. You can contact him by  email or you can read more at Principle Dynamics Consulting

Comments

[oalics okali]

In as mouch as you look at integrity as a circular thing, i belive strongingly that integrity is a virtue in the christaindom, if you look at integrity as wholeness, upright honesty,reliability, fareness, perfaction,and holding truely to Christain values and moralsas.which our Lord Jesus Christ uphold and abmonishes us to emulate.Be perfact as your heavenly Father is perfact.

[Kira Goettling]

Doug,

After mulling on the idea that integrity is a virtue ... I think that integrity is the binder which integrates values and action (word and deed) rather than an actual virtue in itself....

Respectfully,

Kira