Is this a modern reformation? Said Javid, a leading candidate for PM, said yesterday that his inspiration was a sermon on integrity at a prayer breakfast in parliament last week.
Rush to ‘integrity’ as politics turns toxic
Is this a modern reformation? Said Javid, a leading candidate for PM, said yesterday that his inspiration was a sermon on integrity at a prayer breakfast in parliament last week.
In 1517, Martin LutherA 16th Century German priest known for his role in the Protestant Reformation and as the namesake of Lutheranism. wrote to his archbishop. Why was the Church selling seats in heaven to pay for a new cathedral in Rome? The question cut to the bone of 16th-Century society and religion. It split Europe and sparked the Reformation.
Some think we are on the eve of another great upheaval. "The word integritySomeone with integrity is honest and has strong moral principles. is now on every political lip," writes columnist George Pitcher. Conservative MPs say Boris Johnson is a "vacuum of integrity" and Number 10 a "lie machine".
The contenders to replace him say they will restore trust. Pitcher believes something big is afoot: "Business and political leaders have for too long worshipped at the altars of selfhood and individualismThe political philosophy that values the rights of the individual over society. It is a key idea in liberal democracies and modern capitalism.." We must develop modern virtues of discernmentThe ability to judge well and make good decisions. and self-discipline.
Last year, 63% of people in the UK said MPs were in it "for themselves". Across the world, "we have stopped trusting elites", writes sociologist William Davies, and "it's too late to turn back the clock".
Society "longs now to be led on a flight-to-integrity", argues Pitcher. A modern reformation can sweep away cronyismAwarding jobs and privileges to friends and supporters. and vote in leaders with nobler standards.
Integrity politicians may want to study AristotleA student of Plato, tutor to Alexander the Great and the father of political philosophy.. The philosopher believed we should pursue a good life based on four cardinal virtuesCardinal means fundamental or most important. For Aristotle, these virtues were prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.. Early Christian philosophers like Thomas AquinasOne of the most important medieval thinkers. The Italian priest called Aristotle "the Philosopher" and worked to unite pagan Greek philosophy with Christian principles. worked these ideas into the fabric of European culture.
Pitcher says the Enlightenment swapped these values for a "cult of self", defined by individualism and the pursuit of power. Society has been governed by populistsPopulism is a political approach whereby a politician tries to appeal to ordinary people who feel that they have been let down by elite groups. who say anything to get elected and a prime minister who wanted to be "World KingThe young Boris Johnson's dream job.".
In Why Trust Matters, the economist Benjamin Ho calls trust the "glue that holds civilisation together". The problem, writes William Davies, is that "trust relies on a leap of faith". Distrust grows with "ever-mounting piles of evidence".
Political scientist David Rothkopf calls this an infodemicMerging the words information and pandemic. The United Nations and World Health Organisation use this term to refer to fake news and misinformation about Covid-19.: too much information and misinformation make it impossible to trust anyone.
Five centuries ago, Martin Luther did not trust the Catholic Church. He argued everyone should read the Bible and make up their minds about religion. Like the Internet, the printing press helped spread this idea across Europe.
Will digital society be ruled by trust and integrity? Or by suspicion and lies?
Is this a modern reformation?
Yes: We are tired of liars, corruption and self-interested politicians. Society cannot survive without trust. So we need a new politics of integrity that inspires everyone to believe in each other.
No: Nothing has changed. Leaders will always say what they think we want to hear. The only difference is that some politicians are more convincing than others.
Or... Change takes time. Aristotle's ideas, Martin Luther's Reformation and the Enlightenment all changed society over centuries. We should not expect miracles, but we can hope for progress.
Keywords
Martin Luther - A 16th Century German priest known for his role in the Protestant Reformation and as the namesake of Lutheranism.
Integrity - Someone with integrity is honest and has strong moral principles.
Individualism - The political philosophy that values the rights of the individual over society. It is a key idea in liberal democracies and modern capitalism.
Discernment - The ability to judge well and make good decisions.
Cronyism - Awarding jobs and privileges to friends and supporters.
Aristotle - A student of Plato, tutor to Alexander the Great and the father of political philosophy.
Cardinal virtues - Cardinal means fundamental or most important. For Aristotle, these virtues were prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
Thomas Aquinas - One of the most important medieval thinkers. The Italian priest called Aristotle "the Philosopher" and worked to unite pagan Greek philosophy with Christian principles.
Populists - Populism is a political approach whereby a politician tries to appeal to ordinary people who feel that they have been let down by elite groups.
World King - The young Boris Johnson's dream job.
Infodemic - Merging the words information and pandemic. The United Nations and World Health Organisation use this term to refer to fake news and misinformation about Covid-19.
Rush to ‘integrity’ as politics turns toxic
Glossary
Martin Luther - A 16th Century German priest known for his role in the Protestant Reformation and as the namesake of Lutheranism.
Integrity - Someone with integrity is honest and has strong moral principles.
Individualism - The political philosophy that values the rights of the individual over society. It is a key idea in liberal democracies and modern capitalism.
Discernment - The ability to judge well and make good decisions.
Cronyism - Awarding jobs and privileges to friends and supporters.
Aristotle - A student of Plato, tutor to Alexander the Great and the father of political philosophy.
Cardinal virtues - Cardinal means fundamental or most important. For Aristotle, these virtues were prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
Thomas Aquinas - One of the most important medieval thinkers. The Italian priest called Aristotle "the Philosopher" and worked to unite pagan Greek philosophy with Christian principles.
Populists - Populism is a political approach whereby a politician tries to appeal to ordinary people who feel that they have been let down by elite groups.
World King - The young Boris Johnson's dream job.
Infodemic - Merging the words information and pandemic. The United Nations and World Health Organisation use this term to refer to fake news and misinformation about Covid-19.