What does one think of when considering corrupt leaders? The terror or the torture they inflict on their people? Or perhaps the evil way they appear when photographed for newspaper articles and filmed for the nightly news. Or maybe, as in the case for many years surrounding the Third Reich and the reign of Adolph Hitler, many may believe that it is impossible to stop them. The thing with political corruption and the leaders who act is such a way, is that by the standards of many, corruption and torture is immoral and unethical. Well, one idea to consider is the derivation of the word ethics as it is translated from the Greek language.
Love of wisdom, that is it. In keeping with the word’s roots, the International Dictionary of Cambridge states that the meaning of the word philosophy is that it is the practice of the use of reason, when one is attempting to understand such concepts as the nature of existence and reality. And then dealing with the limits, and enhancing the uses of that knowledge gained and applying it to the governing principles that influence and affect moral and ethical judgement.
When applied to the political arena one must take these definitions into the context of, the political arena. Or must they? Seriously, would any corrupt political leader be fine with being called unwise? Would Hitler have been fine with being accused a man lacking wisdom. For some reason, being accused of that, lacking wisdom has a greater affect on some people that accusing them of lacking heart or compassion. But by the definition, ethical behavior implies the action taken to do the right thing, to act with that compassion because not only is it right, it is wise.
Corruption is the misuse of power without regard to the effects and the consequences of that action. When leaders act in a corrupt fashion, it must be noted that they are not only lacking in responsibility, but they are acting without knowledge, in a manner that can only be referred to asinine, and, well stupid for lack of a better term. And what is so hard or scary about attempting to stop someone who is … stupid … and lacks wisdom and moral fiber?
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