No Moral Compass in Zero ‘Humans by nature are social animals that are intended to co-inhabit in a polis’ William Bennett (1996) The Moral Compass, Stories of a Life’s Journey. Ethics is the study of moral philosophy and moral systems. Without an ethic one cannot have an understanding of the core … [Read more...] about No Moral Compass in Zero
Ethics
An Ethical Psychology of Risk
An Ethical Psychology of Risk The foundation of professionalism is Ethics. Without such a foundation one can masquerade and parade about all kinds of unethical nonsense as good. This is why safety more than any industry needs an Ethic of Risk and doesn’t have one. The poor excuse for an Ethic of … [Read more...] about An Ethical Psychology of Risk
Methodology and an Ethic of Risk
Methodology and an Ethic of Risk Methodology frames method. Methodology is not method despite the fact that many use the words interchangeably. A methodology is a philosophy, it is what drives method and its most important to be able to distinguish one from the other. If one experiences brutalism … [Read more...] about Methodology and an Ethic of Risk
Paralysis by Precaution
Paralysis by Precaution Munthe (2011) investigates the cost of precaution in his book The Price of Precaution and the Ethics of Risk. The Precautionary Principle (PP) is sometimes called ‘prudent avoidance’ and is premised on the idea that inaction in times of doubt and uncertainty is the best … [Read more...] about Paralysis by Precaution
Psychics, Safety and Zero Quackery
The history of fortune telling in Australia is amusing. In the early days fortune telling was declared a crime in statutory law but by the 21st century most jurisdictions repealed such laws and reduced the activity to a lesser charge of fraud. It still remains a crime to tell fortunes for payment in … [Read more...] about Psychics, Safety and Zero Quackery
Wisdom Based Safety
In a appreciative response to a blog on A Philosophy of Safety John Phillips used the phrase ‘Wisdom-Based Safety ‘(WBS), what a wonderful expression. What a delightful expression and far better than the brutalism of BBS. More on WBS later. There are two most profound indictments of the … [Read more...] about Wisdom Based Safety
Brady Review, Nothing New, No Way Forward – Republished
3 years on and nothing has changed............. One of the things that Safety does well is keep the doors closed to critical thinking outside of its own paradigm. Dialogue within the discipline of safety is tight, engaging similar worldviews, ensuring that nothing changes. This was confirmed … [Read more...] about Brady Review, Nothing New, No Way Forward – Republished
Fake Paperwork Ethics, Spin and The Freedom to Harm
Scandals and unethical conduct are quickly forgotten in an age of mis-information, noise and the 10 second news cycle. We saw this week two examples of corporate unethical conduct from organisations with all the codes of conduct in place but no ethical or moral being. PwC and BHP: PwC … [Read more...] about Fake Paperwork Ethics, Spin and The Freedom to Harm
The Power of Symbols in Safety
We saw the story recently of the Nazi flag being flown in Beulah Victoria. Interestingly, the etymology of the word ‘Beulah’ designates a mystical place tied to Jewish identity. The controversy over the flying of the flag demonstrates the power of symbols to stir the emotions and draw to the … [Read more...] about The Power of Symbols in Safety
The Ethic of ALARP and the Dilemma of Safety
One of the great things about the Regulation and the Act is the subjectivity of ALARP and Due Diligence. Both account for the beauty of human fallibility and the adaptability needed in tackling risk. Of course, there is no policy, law, regulation or standard that is absent of a moral philosophy. … [Read more...] about The Ethic of ALARP and the Dilemma of Safety