Essay Sample on Virtue of Integrity

Introduction

Virtues refer to behaviors that show an individual has high levels of moral standards or what is perceived as a good character in a person. Virtues are meant to regulate how people behave and how they are expected to act as determined by their morals. Aristotle had a list of virtues that regulated the way individuals acted in the ancient Greek times, but with the advancement in technology, some of the virtues have been abandoned or even altered as people are slowly becoming morally decayed. In his list of virtues, Aristotle did not include the virtue of integrity which has proven to be very important in bringing Eudaimonia in today's society(Hooft 100-120). Eudaimonia according to Aristotle refers to the right actions that lead to the wellbeing or brings happiness to people. A person is considered to have integrity if he/she is morally excellent and contains all values such as generosity, kindness, and fairness.

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Integrity is a very crucial virtue and has assisted in governing modern activities as well as the way people act when performing the daily activities. The activities that are regulated by integrity are corruption, gender equality, accountability in finances or government property or resources. Integrity encourages honesty and ethical behaviors; corruption has been a significant problem in today's world where people have to pay their way to employment, attaining of government resources even when they are not supposed to pay to get such opportunities because it is their rights to obtain them. When people practice integrity, such cases of corruption will not be experienced since it will encourage honesty and consciousness to the people responsible. People will be able to attain government resources without paying for them, and this will result in the wellbeing and happiness to the citizens of a country.

Gender equality is where both men and women are treated equally and have equal rights in a society. In the ancient Greek women had no power and a voice because they were seen as if they were not capable of making sound decisions, integrity has resulted in equal treatment of gender at workplaces(Hauskeller 67-100). The modern society is promoting women rights, and they are doing men's job because employers have become more conscious and are becoming more enlightened when it comes to treating people right. Eudaimonia has been achieved in this situation because the welfare of the women have been promoted and prosperity have been achieved.

Accountability of government resources has been achieved because people have become morally upright and they have become less selfish. People who have selfish motives only think about their welfare and do not consider other people; integrity has encouraged people to be more conscious, honest and sensitive on the welfare of other people(Hooft 100-120). Therefore malpractices have reduced in offices or firms, and fewer cases of squandering of resources have been reported in the society today. Integrity comes with honesty, and as people practice honesty with time, it becomes a habit and this results to good character in people. When there is a fair distribution of government resources in the society, most people will be able to obtain basic things, or opportunities and a contented country is a happy country. Eudaimonia is achieved as stated by Aristotle since the right people are acting right and through this, the well-being of individuals have been achieved.

This virtue is cultivated or practiced by a set of people in society, such sets of people include employers and employees, government's officials and learners. Employers are expected to practice integrity because it guides them on how to treat their minors or employees and ensure they are given their rights. Employees should respect their employers by following rules and regulations as set by the work policy, in this situation, it should be two way where both employers and employees are treating each other in the right way(Aristotle. and Rackham 78-167). Government officials should practice integrity by being more conscious by ensuring their department are corruption free and ensure they use the resources in the right way and also avoid misuse of power. Learners should also practice integrity by being honest in situations such as exams where they should avoid exams malpractice and get honest grades.

Conclusion

The virtue of integrity should be practiced by all members of the society because, in today's world, people relate in one way or another and integrity is required because it teaches people the way to treat others. Integrity also comes with respect because it makes people more sensitive on how to treat people with defaults such as disabilities and make them comfortable as much as possible. Integrity has been able to reveal the social inequalities in today's world where practices such as corruption, female circumcision, and gender inequalities have been brought to light because people practicing integrity and honesty have been encouraged to expose corrupt individuals and the vices in the society to the public. People have become more conscious and are practicing ethics, and through this, they are helping in setting things rights and encouraging people to be honest. The society can be taught on ways of practicing integrity by people who are responsible or people in power setting a good example to the other people in the society through doing what is expected of them. The people involved in the vices in the society should be punished to make people aware that the law is taking actions in ensuring people act with integrity and honesty, through this people will be encouraged to practice the virtue of integrity, and people's well-being will improve.

Works Cited

Aristotle. And H Rackham. The Athenian Constitution; the Eudemian Ethics; On Virtues and Vices. 1st ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2010. Print.

Hooft, Stan van. The Handbook of Virtue Ethics. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2014. Print.

Hauskeller, Michael. Biotechnology and the Integrity of Life. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2016. Print.