Ethics and Globalization in Historical Perspective: The Relevance of Socrates in Our Days

Abstract

Only 20 years ago, any public discussion of ethics or mention of its relevance to the public sphere at large would have raised eyebrows, at best. It was generally viewed as too vague, too culture-bound, too subjective, and too sensitive to qualify for entry in the curricula of schools of Political Studies and Public Administration, or for high-level debate at international fora. That this state of affairs has changed, indeed changed drastically since the mid-1990s, is arguably less the result of a revaluation of ethics or integrity and their role in public life. Rather, it trails the surge of corruption internationally and the growing sense of the perils resulting from inaction in the face of emerging kleptocracies; a sense made more intense by the progress of globalization (G. Caiden et al. 2001).

“Men of Athens, I honour and love you; but I shall obey [my conscience] rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy, exhorting anyone whom I meet, after my manner, and convincing him, saying: O my friend, why do you, who are a citizen of the great and mighty and wise city of Athens, care so much about laying up the greatest amount of money and honour and reputation, and so little about wisdom and truth.” Plato “The Apology of Socrates” from “The Trial and Death of Socrates”