Emergents Weblog

Francis Schaeffer wrote a book that was first published in 1976 that asked the question, “How then shall we live?” This is an excellent question. It is sometimes the only question that matters. It is a question that deserves regular consideration so that our character embraces the depth of our thoughts. In that way when the moment arises that our character is put to the test, we are able to act accordingly wiht integrity and power. This question is the ultimate question of nearly all philosophy, and the basic question that most religious beliefs address.

Ancient Times
Socrates (469-399 BC) offered the world one of his most powerful breakthrough ideas which ecommended that every individual cross-examine their own beliefs. This involves asking and answering probing questions in order to arrive at something that could be considered true or valuable.

Aristotle (384-322 BC), who studied under Plato shared with us the term Eudaimonia (1). This is a process of living virtuously, not a fixed state of being. Some consider this to be a pursuit of “happiness” embraced by the United States founding fathers. Aristotle asserted that eudaimonia (Greek: εὐδαιμονία) was the only potential goal of life that could be considered an end in itself rather than a means to another end. His teaching however did not encourge self-centered action, rather Aristotle was interested in helping himself and his students find a “right way to live”. He resolved that if such a thing could be said to exist it would come to a person through virtuous action and contemplation.

The question of values and ethics may be a matter of personal choice. However, in the light of recent world issues and actions – the worst action you can take is to ignore the question entirely.

I recently learned that the ISO has plans to release a standard on Social Responsibility in 2010 (2). As of November 2007, the Working Group had increased to 395 experts from 78 countries and 37 D-liaison
organizations. About 40% of the experts are females. Out of the total number of registered NSBs some 60% were from developing countries. – This is a promising start!

The challenging task the ISO has begun has thus far resulted in 5 global meetings which produced the SR Principles – Draft Text (August 23, 2006) that contains three types of principles the ISO intends to standardize: general, substantive and operational. General principles are overriding principles that apply in all circumstances. They apply to both substantive and operational principles. These principles should transcend any particular subject area. Substantive principles apply to outcomes that organizations are accountable for. Operational principles apply to the nature and quality of the process. They apply to the process of implementing substantive principles.

Substantive principleswould include “Human Rights”. The SR Principlals draft text suggested that: “Organizations should ensure that their activities respect, promote and advance internationally recognised human rights.” For example: organizations should respect, promote and advance internationally recognised human rights, and ensure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses;
organizations must ensure that all relevant staff, including security personnel, are provided with appropriate cultural and human rights training and guidance.”

The substanitive principles also envelop the area of Labor and the same report recommends that: “organizations shall not practice unfair discrimination in their employment practices, whether based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”. 

Real Life Application
Did you see in the news or read about the donor offered up more than $200,000 of his own money to bail 40 illegal immigrants working in Boston from detention and deportation?  The payments came from Bob Hildreth, a Boston financier who made his millions trading Latin American debt. He was “infuriated” with what he saw and chose to take action (3).

Mr. Hildreth acted with social repsponsibility according to his values (4). How different might this world be if ordinary people and leaders alike acted impulsively and conscienciously with more consideration of others. Perhaps we would have less children born addicted to drugs, lower levels of road rage, and fewer homeless and hungry people waiting for government bailout programs to flow through the democratic process on capitol hill and our state capitols.

Take Action
What is our social responsibility? It is now irrefutable that we live in a global society. Regardless of our faith, economic position, race, age, status, gender, or sexual orientation, issues such as those in Myanmar, China, and Boston can serve to alert us to our opportunity for social action.

How then shall we live? 

———————————————————————————Sources:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia
2. http://isotc.iso.org/livelink/livelink/fetch/2000/2122/830949/3934883/3935096/home.html?nodeid=4451259&vernum=0
3. http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120589144850147397.html?mod=blog
4. http://www.stevepavlina.com/articles/list-of-values.htm