Our Centers for Ethics:

The Six Pillars of Character

Whether at work, at home, or at play, there are basic values that define ethical behavior. These values are not political, religious, or culturally biased. Josephson Institute calls them the Six Pillars of Character, and they form the basis of all Institute programs and materials.

For a more detailed discussion of the Six Pillars, consult our book, Making Ethical Decisions, reprinted in part here. Do you work with young people? See the Six Pillars page on CharacterCounts.org.

Trustworthiness

This Pillar encompasses a variety of qualities: honesty, integrity, reliability, and loyalty. Being trustworthy means keeping promises and doing one's best not to deceive, even with white lies or statements that one might defend as "technically true."

Respect

The Golden Rule is the most useful guide here: Treat others as you wish to be treated. That means being courteous, listening to others, and accepting individual differences.

Responsibility

This Pillar includes accountability, self-control, and the pursuit of excellence. Being responsible also requires that we carefully consider the consequences of our choices before we make them.

Fairness

Being fair means playing by the rules and not taking advantage of others. A fair person makes informed judgments without favoritism or prejudice and does not blame others carelessly.

Caring

Kindness, compassion, altruism — these are the heart of ethics. Of course, some ethical decisions inevitably cause pain, but the caring person acts to minimize hardship and to help others whenever possible.

Citizenship

Good citizens work to make their community better. They are committed to protecting our environment and to making our democratic institutions work. They know the law — and they often do more than it requires and less than it allows.

All Josephson Institute materials use the Six Pillars common language. To help promote these shared values in your workplace or community, consider displaying Six-Pillar posters and banners and distributing Making Ethical Decisions booklets along with Six-Pillar awareness products.