Integrity - Wikipedia

Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values.^[1][2][3] In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Integrity can stand in opposition to hypocrisy,^[4] in that judging with the standards of integrity involves regarding internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding within themselves apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs. The word integrity evolved from the Latin adjective integer, meaning whole or complete.^[1] In this context, integrity is the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character.^[5]

In politicsEdit

Integrity is important for politicians because they are chosen, appointed, or elected to serve society.To be able to serve, politicians are given power to make, execute, or control policy. They have the power to influence something or someone, which can have important consequences. There is, however, a risk that politicians will not use this power to serve society, which opposes the notion of integrity.^[9] Aristotle said that because rulers have power they will be tempted to use it for personal gain.^[10]

In the book The Servant of the People, Muel Kaptein describes that integrity should start with politicians knowing what their position entails, because integrity is related to their position. Integrity also demands knowledge and compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the written and unwritten rules. Integrity is also acting consistently not only with what is generally accepted as moral, what others think, but primarily with what is ethical, what politicians should do based on reasonable arguments.^[11]

Important virtues of politicians are faithfulness, humility,^[11] and accountability. Furthermore, they should be authentic and a role model. Aristotle identified dignity(megalopsuchia, variously translated as proper pride, greatness of soul and magnanimity)^[9] as the crown of the virtues, distinguishing it from vanity, temperance, and humility.