The University of Central Lancashire website has some interesting graphics of 19th and 20th century temperance pledge cards of various British temperance groups (click here). They're not only historically intriguing but they're also colorful historical examples of ways to promote one's own pledges and oaths.
Monthly Archives: June 2010
Ethical Wills
Though they are not generally either pledges, oaths, or promises, I want to discuss ethical wills because they are a unique
form of ethical declaration: a declaration of principles that one wishes to pass on to others and to live on in others long after one's own death. Specifically, "Ethical wills are a way to share your values, blessings, life's lessons, hopes and dreams for the future, love, and forgiveness with your family, friends, and community," as Barry K. Baines says on his website ethicalwill.com.
"Ethical wills are not new. The Hebrew Bible first described ethical wills 3000 years ago (Genesis Ch. 49). References to this tradition are also found in the Christian Bible (John Ch. 15-18) and in other cultures. Initially, ethical wills were transmitted orally. Over time, they evolved into written documents. 'Ethical wills' are not considered legal documents as compared to 'living wills' and your 'last will and testament' which are. Today, ethical wills are being written by people at turning points in their lives: facing challenging life situations and at transitional life stages. They are usually shared with family and community while the writer is still alive."
The following are links to various ethical wills found on the Internet. (Related topics: Refer to Promoting codes of ethics, pledges, etc. and Writing codes of ethics, pledges, etc..)
- "A Father's Admonition" by Judah ibn Tibbon, France, ca.1160/
1180 (from Paul Halsall, editor, Fordham Univ., Internet History Sourcebooks Project) - Ethical Will by Thelly Reahm, 1996 (Life Story Writing Network)
- Several examples of modern-day ethical wills, "written by people at different
stages of life" (from Barry Baines, ethicalwill.com)- More examples of modern-day ethical wills from Susan Turnbull's website
(Personal Legacy Advisors, LLC)- some Jewish ethical wills (Religion and Ethics
Newsweekly, excerpted from Jack Riemer's and Nathaniel Stampfer's So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them) - Several examples of modern-day ethical wills, "written by people at different
Writing Your Ethical Will
Here are a few articles pertaining to writing ethical wills. (Related topic: Refer to Ethical Wills category)
Methods of Promoting Codes of Ethics, Pledges, etc.
The following articles, arranged randomly, link directly to articles or websites that illustrate specific examples of methods used by various groups to promote the use of their codes, oaths, pledges, etc..
- Journalism Ethics Project (Radio Television Digital News Association, formerly Radio-Television News Directors Association & Foundation) "Premised on the belief that local news organizations and their communities depend on each other to survive and prosper, this project encourages local news organizations to have an ongoing dialogue with the communities they serve." The goals of the ethics project are to "Encourage high standards of electronic journalism among news professionals and news organizations" and "Rebuild public trust in the media through improved journalistic practices." The project offers: Public forums for discussing the role and impact of journalism in society; Training workshops; Print and video resources; Research on public attitudes about electronic news.
- SPUSA Pledge Program promoting the Student Pugwash USA's SPUSA Pledge, which challenges young people "to make a personal commitment to use science and technology is a socially responsible way." The program also includes the annual Joseph Rothbat Lecture Series
. - Christian Internet Code of Ethics is presented on the Nazarene Network website both in full and as an "Abbreviated Version for Web Pages," and the html code for abbreviated version is also included.
- The Graduation Pledge Alliance website is devoted exclusively to methods of promoting the use of its Humboldt pledge in schools
- Strengthening the commitment to carry out the Pledge after leaving school
- Press Releases concerning the Pledge
- A letter to graduating seniors explaining the pledge
- Steps for building support for a Pledge Campaign
- A one page handout for graduating seniors concerning social responsibility and their career (values clarification, job searching, etc.)
- Building consciousness-raising around the Pledge
- A survey for those graduates who have taken the Pledge
- Getting alumni and career services with your effort.
- Sample Pledge Certificates/Cards
- HON Code of Ethics (Health On the Net Foundation) project "to help standardise the reliability of medical and health information available on the World-Wide Web. The HONcode is not an award system, nor does it intend to rate the quality of the information provided by a Web site. It only defines a set of rules to:
– hold Web site developers to basic ethical standards in the presentation of information;
– help make sure readers always know the source and the purpose of the data they are reading."- Ethics Pledge Program for endorsing and monitoring all website award programs
- The Advertising Federation of Australia, "the first advertising body in the world to introduce a Code of Ethics, has a Guide to its Code of Ethics, which elaborates on each element of its code, thus helping to assure that the meaning of its codemote the code within the respective agency.
- Ethics Officers Association ("The Ethics Officer Association (EOA) is a non-consulting, member-driven association exclusively for individuals who are responsible for their company
How to Write Codes of Ethics, Pledges, etc.
The following articles, arranged randomly, provide various perspectives on how to create a code of ethics primarily. And most also relate either directly or indirectly to other forms of promise (i.e., oaths, pledges, etc.).
- Guidance for writing a code of ethics (Chris MacDonald, Ph.D.)
- Suggested elements for all ethical codes (The Toronto Resolution)
- Codes of Ethics: Who Needs Them? by Eric Matthews This article explains the rationale for the declaration that the author designed for medical graduates of the University of Aberdeen. He makes an intentional distinction between an "oath," such as that of Hippocrates, and this "declaration."
- Worksheet for designing your own code of honor (Lesson Connection: Chivalry and Courtly Love, the Kennedy Center)
- "The Seven Knightly Virtues: Essential Elements of Today's Code of Chivalry" (Scott Farrell)
- MediaWise position paper on journalism Codes of Conduct
- Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers (Carter McNamara, MAP For Non-Profits)
- "Establishing a code of ethics" (Institute of Business Ethics):
(from "Identifying Community Values," in Taking Responsibility: Standards for Ethical and Responsible Behaviour in Maine Schools and Communities Institute For Global Ethics and Maine Department of Education)
1 . Objectively identify community members. Differences in lifestyles or politics are not a justification for exclusion from this process.
2 . Convene a diverse and representative group of community members to discuss and identify community values and expectations for behavior.
3 . Ask community members to imagine that the task is to choose a certain number of values to be engraved above the main entries of all lo