Integrity: Are we born with it? Or is it made?

“Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.” - George Eliot

Integrity is often described as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, but it also implies a sense of wholeness and consistency of character. To act with integrity is to align one’s actions with one’s values, even when it’s inconvenient or costly. Philosophers from Aristotle to Kant to contemporary ethicists have explored integrity as both a personal virtue and a social necessity. It raises questions about authenticity, moral courage, and whether integrity requires adherence to external moral standards or simply loyalty to one’s own convictions. In today’s complex world, integrity is tested in personal relationships, professional life, and civic responsibility.

10 Discussion Questions on Integrity:

1. How would you define integrity in your own words? Is it more about honesty, consistency, or something else?
2. Can a person have integrity if their values themselves are flawed or harmful? Why or why not?
3. Is integrity more about staying true to your own principles or about adhering to universal moral standards?
4. What is the relationship between integrity and authenticity? Are they the same?
5. Can someone lack integrity in one area of life (e.g., work) but still have it in another (e.g., family)? Or is integrity holistic?
6. Think of a historical or public figure often described as having integrity. What made them stand out? Are there counterexamples?
7. How does integrity relate to moral courage? Does integrity require acting against the majority if you believe they’re wrong?
8. Is it ever acceptable to compromise integrity for the sake of other values (e.g., compassion, survival, loyalty)?
9. How do social and cultural norms shape our understanding of integrity? Can what counts as integrity vary across cultures?
10. In a world of competing demands and ethical gray areas, how can we cultivate and maintain integrity?

Readings & Video:
What is integrity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity
What is integrity in the workplace https://www.michaelpage.com.au/advice/career-advice/productivity-and-performance/what-integrity-workplace
What is integrity https://youtu.be/jlzBGSVW1lI
What is the opposite of integrity https://youtu.be/zeXDiZP719Q
Is integrity the same as honesty? https://youtu.be/odnIR9d5HzI
Socrates on Integrity https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fBvlCK9ujI8?feature=share
The Philosophy of Integrity https://youtu.be/tZ-lkb8t0kU
Finding the meaning of life through confidence building https://medium.com/@danthecoach/the-philosophy-of-integrity-finding-the-meaning-of-life-through-confidence-building-ae90d0fa7cdd