• Course Introduction

        • Time: 8 hours
        • Free Certificate
        What does it mean to be an ethical leader? In this course, we study how our culture views and values individuals who represent the ideas, qualities, and ideals of ethical leadership. We begin by exploring the classical Greek philosophical tradition of virtuous leadership in accordance with Plato's Four Cardinal Virtues and Aristotle's views on leadership and virtue. These virtue-based approaches to moral leadership provide a framework we can use to identify the characteristics or qualities of a virtuous and ethical leader: someone who lives a virtuous and ethical life based on leadership and service.

        Next, we investigate ways we have applied and interpreted classical Greek virtues across time and culture. We explore how cultures conceptualize the virtuous leader. How does culture change and preserve the concept? Finally, we consider the traits or essential qualities for good leadership: honesty, moral courage and moral vision, compassion, fairness, intellectual excellence and willingness to listen to others, creative thinking, aesthetic sensitivity, good timing, and selflessness.

        • Course Syllabus

          First, read the course syllabus. Then, enroll in the course by clicking "Enroll me". Click Unit 1 to read its introduction and learning outcomes. You will then see the learning materials and instructions on how to use them.

        • Unit 1: The Classical Virtues of Leadership

          This unit outlines the classical virtues and ideals of leadership. What makes a true leader? What makes the ideals they espouse appealing? Consider how the virtues discussed might look today, and whether we still value them as qualities good leaders possess.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 4 hours.

        • Unit 2: Perspectives on Leadership

          In the last unit, we considered the ethics and virtues of leadership from a classical perspective. However, the ancient Greeks were not the only ones to consider what it means to be a great leader, in terms of virtue and competence. Let's examine elements of leadership theory from the perspective of other cultures and times, and what their representatives believed about virtuous leadership.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 1 hour.

        • Unit 3: Characteristics of an Ethical or Virtuous Leader

          Now, let's align the qualities we have explored in this course, Plato and Aristotle's classical virtues and different perspectives on leadership, into a more current framework for what it means to be a "good" or "virtuous" leader. Most successful leaders possess certain virtues. We will explore nine traits that some might describe as essential qualities for good leadership: honesty, moral courage and vision, compassion, fairness, intellectual excellence and willingness to listen to others, creative thinking, aesthetic sensitivity, good timing, and selflessness.

          While these leadership elements frequently overlap with the classical ideals of virtuous leadership we discussed above, the correlation is not always direct or complete. In this unit, we will create links of each of these virtues with the most appropriate classical virtue described by Plato and Aristotle.

          Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.

        • Course Feedback Survey

          Please take a few minutes to give us feedback about this course. We appreciate your feedback, whether you completed the whole course or even just a few resources. Your feedback will help us make our courses better, and we use your feedback each time we make updates to our courses.

          If you come across any urgent problems, email contact@saylor.org.

        • Certificate Final Exam

          Take this exam if you want to earn a free Course Completion Certificate.

          To receive a free Course Completion Certificate, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on this final exam. Your grade for the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam on your first try, you can take it again as many times as you want, with a 7-day waiting period between each attempt.

          Once you pass this final exam, you will be awarded a free Course Completion Certificate.