Exploring the Virtue of Honesty: From Ancient Philosophy to Modern Civil Service

Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, famously roamed Athens with a lamp in search of an honest man, highlighting the rarity of honesty. This theme resonates in today’s world as few exhibit true intellectual honesty.

Episode Overview

In this episode, we explore the concept of honesty, particularly intellectual honesty, essential for professionals and civil servants. We will discuss:

The meaning of honesty and behaviours incompatible with it.

How professionals, especially civil servants, can practice honesty as a virtue.

The difference between professional and intellectual honesty.

Key Points

What is Honesty?: More than just not lying, honesty is a character quality guiding our actions consistently.

Behaviours Incompatible with Honesty: Lying, misleading, stealing, cheating, promise-breaking, plagiarism, bluffing, and self-deception.

Behaviours Reflecting Honesty: Truthfulness, respect for property, proper compliance, fidelity to promises, and forthrightness.

Honesty as a Civil Service Virtue: Civil servants must be truthful, forthright, respectful of property, comply with fair rules, and keep promises to maintain trust and integrity.

Join us in this episode to understand why honesty is crucial and how it shapes ethical decision-making in professional and public life. Watch the full video on YouTube