Mistaking Honesty for Integrity

In our society there excites a general feeling of distrust. We live in a culture of false advertising and as a result we don’t know who we can trust. People are constantly afraid that the government, corporations and media, are lying to them. Stephen L. Carter’s article The Insufficiency of Honesty, captured my attention because it addressed this issue at its core and left me contemplating the issue of integrity vs. honesty. Currently, there is an outcry for honesty. But in truth honesty is not enough and not quit what we are looking for. Honesty is often used to deceive, to induce harm and to avert blame. What people are really searching for is integrity. Carter’s article address the difference between honesty and integrity and how honesty can be used dishonestly. He also discussed how long held beliefs effect our perception of honesty. All of these factors affect how we view our society and add to our feelings of mistrust.

Integrity is a topic that people are excited to talk about. It seems to be a commodity that is in short supply. I feel that this is because integrity is a more complex matter then honesty. It takes more work to conduct yourself with integrity then simple honesty. Carter says that integrity requires three things. First you have to be able to discern between wrong and right. Second you have to act on what you discern. Lastly, you must be able to say that you are acting on your understanding of right and wrong (Carter 74). In my opinion, these steps required a person truly consider a situation and ensures that person’s integrity is steadfast and trustworthy. Without these steps “a person may be entirely honest without ever engaging in the hard work of discernment that integrity requires” (Carter 74).

Have you...

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...n the end, Carter convinced me that mere honesty is insufficient. Honesty is a noble trait, but it is often misused and can do great harm. Honesty also allows people to escape from their moral responsibilities. What we are really looking for is integrity. We need to practice analyzing moral problems and executing proper responses based on our analysis. We need to understand that integrity is a deeper issue than simply telling the truth. Not only does it require a true understanding of an issue but integrity also requires a person to keep to their commitments and reinforce that they can be trusted. Honesty is the appearance of trustworthiness in the short term. But true integrity results from the hard work of establishing your trustworthiness throughout a lifetime.

Works Cited

Carter, Stephen L. "The Insufficiency of Honesty." Atlantic Monthly Feb. 1996: 74-76.