Ethics

I'm reading a report in an HR publication that sites the results of a survey given to teens aged 13 to 18. Here are some of the results.

71% feel prepared to make ethical decisions when they begin working. Conversely, 29% are not.

38% think it may be necessary at times to lie, cheat or behave violently in order to succeed.

24% think cheating on a test is acceptable.

You could say, "well they are only teens, what do you expect?", but then most young people develop their basic beliefs by the time they are about 12 years old. We sometimes employ young people in their late teens, people that may hold the same standards as those cited above. Scary.

The article says the findings suggest an attitude of ethical relativism and rationalization of actions to serve one's needs and purposes. Elsewhere I have posted today about Deconstructionism and Postmodernism which are exactly the philosophies employed by those who believe in defining standards to suit one's own needs rather than on absolute, unchanging truth. Now juxtapose the results of this survey with our discussion of renaming holidays so as not to offend certain people. Do you see a correlation?

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