John Forman - Ethical Fitness Through Moral Dilemmas

This post by John Forman at Integral Life is interesting - I think there is definite value in what he offers here. Below are a couple of brief excerpts.

In the article he quotes Ken Wilber's "Basic Moral Intuition: Protect and promote the greatest depth [levels of being] for the greatest span [variety of organization]” or its corollary, “Protect and promote the entire health of the spectrum of being, without privileging one level over another.”

Seems this is a necessary perspective missing in some of the recent conversations around ethics in the leaders of the integral community.

Ethical Fitness Through Moral Dilemmas

Posted September 27th, 2011 by John Forman in Integral Post

Relativistic, postmodern thinking has taught us the partial truth that every human being has a unique perspective on what they consider to be good, right and fair. What we have lost in the process is access to teaching that exercises the moral muscle. We appear to have lost sight of the insights, principles and counsel of highly developed moral leaders, which would allow for growth and conversation about morals and ethics. The consequences are becoming deeply problematic.

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An integral approach, of course, provides a quick but thorough scanning for noticing the facts and interpretations in oneself and potential interpretations in others, as well as a way to situate moral dilemmas. First, a leader must be able to notice the objective “facts” of a situation – the right quadrants. That means they must have the time and attention available and these are the two most overstressed resources in most organizations, whether political, business, non-profit, education or any other.

Second, they must be aware that they interpret what they see and have the time and awareness to stop and look for insights by asking themselves: “Would another reasonable person interpret these facts differently?” They must also be aware of potential influences from their personal shadow or what Bob Kegan and Lisa Lahey refer to as “competing commitments”1 on their decisions and actions. These are primarily “left quadrant” aspects.


Finally, they must exercise their “moral musculature” through the contemplation of moral dilemmas. Organizational leadership has two choices: either hire supervisors with the appropriate level of moral complexity (the simpler path) or encourage its development in those who have the capacity and desire to pursue their moral complexity.


The second path is far more difficult.

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With our individual growth edges in mind, we can explore the set of generalizing principles that Kidder supplies for seeking resolution of actual moral dilemmas. He points to three main categories – exceptions to the rules notwithstanding – as follows:

• Utilitarian principles – those measures that seek the greatest good for the greatest number. These principles are interested in the consequences of our actions. Because they cause us to anticipate outcomes, we can usefully refer to these as being “ends-based.”

• Deontological principles (or versions of the “categorical imperative”) – guiding moral beacons that have value unto themselves. What is the highest “rule” that should be invoked here? Hence, these principles can be called “rules-based.”

• Reciprocal principles – These include the Golden Rule, the Golden Mean and the Middle Path among others. Because these considerations ask us to take the place of the other person and imagine what they might desire or prefer, we can call these “care-based.”

One way to braid these all together is to consider the encompassing statement that philosopher Ken Wilber calls the Basic Moral Intuition: “Protect and promote the greatest depth [levels of being] for the greatest span [variety of organization]” or its corollary, “Protect and promote the entire health of the spectrum of being, without privileging one level over another.”


Wilber’s Basic Moral Intuition stands as a useful and practical guiding rule that if everyone adopted it – as Kant suggested with his categorical imperative – the results would be quite welcome and life affirming.

Go read the whole article - his arguments are more complex than these passages can suggest.