Study how our culture views and values the ideas, qualities, and ideals of ethical leadership and what it means to be an ethical leader.
What does it mean to be an ethical leader? In this course, we study how our culture views and values impact 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 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, fairness, a willingness to listen to others, and selflessness through a servant leader.
- Unit 1: The Classical Virtues of Leadership
- Unit 2: Perspectives on Leadership
- Unit 3: Characteristics of an Ethical or Virtuous Leader
- Discuss the classical virtues of leadership according to Plato and Aristotle;
- Critique the cultural ideals of leadership, considering the classical virtues; and
- Compare modern approaches to virtuous and ethical leadership and the classical Greek approach.