Ethicability: How to Decide What's Right and Find the Courage to Do it

We live in a world where we're constantly told what's right and we're losing the ability to work it out for ourselves. From parents to teachers, from preachers to the boss, we're told, "do this," "don't do that," "here's your bonus" or "you're fired." Then we struggle when confronted by a moral dilemma where rules don't tell us what to do, or where what's legal doesn't feel right. "Ethicability" helps us to decide what's right and then find the courage to do it. It is based on a clear, concise and robust model which combines insights from 3,000 years of moral philosophy and the latest scientific research into human psychology and behaviour. In just 20 questions, ethicability enables us to understand and resolve a wide range of moral dilemmas in a format which has been tried and tested by groups as diverse as investment bankers, health practitioners, and the security services. "Ethicability" then helps us to find the courage to do the right thing because we now have the confidence that we have made the best decision we can, having considered everyone and everything involved. Deciding what's right doesn't always mean immediate success or even happiness, because life isn't a playground. "Ethicability" is about being good, doing right, and leaving the world a better place.

Table of Contents:
Contents Genesis Scene setting How to use this book 1. What is ethics? Three moral philosophies Principled Conscience Social Conscience Rule Compliance Integrity - it's a matter of principle Psychology The science of happiness "Games people play" Game theory, fairness and justice Conformity theory Integrity testing Conflict resolution Conflicts of desire Conflicts of interest Conflicts of principle Irresolvable conflicts Applied ethics Personal morality Professional and business ethics Bioethics and the environment Law enforcement and military ethics 2. Ethicability The ethicability framework Ethicability dilemma - Tax avoidance and social responsibility Ethicability dilemma - Friendship and fraud Ethicability dilemma - Too old and ugly? Ethicability dilemma - Medical ethics and healthcare rationing 3. Living a good life, building a better world References Further reading Index Thanks to... Ethicability learning resources

About the Author :
ROGER STEARE is an Occupational Philosopher who works with a range of businesses and public-sector institutions in the UK, the U.S. and in Europe. Roger is co-author of "Integrity in Practice", a paper commissioned by the FSA in 2003 to develop thought leadership in business ethics. He is author of the chapter on Ethics in the Complinet Compliance Handbook. He has also written papers for a number of business journals and speaks regularly at conferences and seminars, including those for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Financial Services, the Securities Industry Association, The Institute of Risk Management and the Defence Academy. He is co-founder of the Soul Gym at Worth Abbey (BBC TWO's "The Monastery"); and an Associate of the Centre for Applied and Professional Ethics at the University of Surrey. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts; and a Member of the Institute of Directors. The son of a Methodist preacher, Roger was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe. He read History at Bedford College, University of London and studied the History of Philosophy with the late Conrad Russell, the Liberal peer and son of the philosopher Bertrand Russell. He draws on a wide range of professional experience as a banker, a social worker, an executive coach and CEO of a UK subsidiary of a Swiss-quoted business services group. Roger is married to Jane and lives near Sevenoaks in Kent.

Review :
"...a gem to companies and individuals wishing to develop a moral compass." John Harker, HR Director, Citigroup EMEA "The field of judgement and careful reasoning needed an accessible, credible and insightful guide. With ethicability Roger has delivered one." Sebastian Bailey, co-founder of the "The Mind Gym" "For executives to act with responsibility and for boards to accept accountability, they can now decide what's right with ethicability." Lindsay Tomlinson, Chief Executive, Barclays Global Investors, Europe "Our experience of Roger's workshops for our senior managers is that even the most cynical and sceptical seize on the value of ethics." Andrew Pullman, Managing Director, Human Resources, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein "I commend ethicability to those who want business with soul as well as profit." Father Christopher Jamison, Abbot of Worth, BBC TWO's "The Monastery" "Roger Steare captures the essence of business integrity in a wonderfully practical and accessible way." Anne Minto OBE , Group Director, Human Resources, Centrica plc (owner of British Gas, "Doing the Right Thing") "Ethics is a word that people feel they should understand but mostly shy away from. Reading ethicability will bring this difficult word alive. The book is down to earth, readable yet comprehensive and widely sourced." Philippa Foster Back OBE, Director, Institute of Business Ethics