This blog is the fourth in a series that focuses on the importance of truth-telling, drawing lessons from ancient myths and highlighting their relevance to contemporary leadership. This final instalment focuses on the crucial role of truth-telling in building trust. More pointedly, the blog illuminates whether it is feasible to adhere to the Kantian principle that emphasises the absolute importance of truth-telling under all circumstances.
The moral conundrum at the heart of Kantian ethics becomes apparent when considering a hypothetical dilemma: imagine you are concealing Anne Frank in your loft, and SS guards, notorious for their cruelty, demand to know her location. Are you morally obliged to disclose her hiding place, or should you protect her? Lying by adopting a "lesser of two evils" strategy might seem a straightforward solution. However, this choice risks sliding into moral relativism, justifying deceit in all difficult circumstances, with implications that are all too clear.
To bring contemporary leadership insights into focus, we delve into the narratives of Aesop's "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and Yudhishthira's story from the Indian epic Mahabharata. Despite their differing cultural backdrops, both tales underscore the profound impact of truth-telling and the cascading consequences of our decisions concerning honesty.
The core messages of these stories transcend historical and cultural boundaries, offering valuable lessons for today's leaders as they navigate the intricacies of modern organisational life while upholding the highest ethical standards. Join us as we embark on a journey through history to distil timeless insights on truth, trust, and leadership.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
As a child, Aesop's fables fascinated me. Interrogating them as an adult, I find their wisdom strikingly relevant to today's ethical quandaries, encapsulating virtues like perseverance and the essence of sacrifice while cautioning against pride, greed, and deceit. Among these, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" stands out as a reminder of the perils of dishonesty. Let's delve deeper into this tale from an adult's perspective.
In a remote village, a shepherd boy watched over a flock of sheep. Bored by his solitary days, he sought excitement through deceit. The boy falsely raised the alarm of a wolf attack on the sheep. The villagers rushed to his aid, only to find the sheep grazing peacefully. The boy laughed at the villagers' expense. Amused, the young shepherd repeated the trick three or four more times. Then, one day, a wolf emerged from the woods and attacked the sheep. This time, the boy's desperate cries were met with the villagers' disbelief as they continued about their day's work. Abandoned, alone and terrified, the boy could only watch as the wolf killed all the sheep.
Aesop concludes with a clear moral: "There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth." This straightforward fable reinforces profound lessons for contemporary leadership.
Build a Leadership Brand for Honesty: Deceit destroys trust. For leaders, honesty isn't just a virtue - it's the foundation of professional leadership identity. Telling the truth plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining trust. Once shattered, sufficient levels of trust are impossible to rebuild.
Tackle Short-Term Challenges with Honesty: The temptation to lie, side-stepping immediate discomfort or adversity is a common pitfall, and opting for an easy fix through dishonesty serves to compound future difficulties. For leaders, this can manifest as avoiding candid performance discussions. This choice temporarily shields a direct report's feelings but ultimately undermines their growth and the team's overall performance.
Yudhishthira's Epic Tale
The Foundation of Virtue: Religious texts are treasure troves of nuanced lessons, and the Mahabharata is no exception. This ancient Sanskrit poem not only recounts the dramatic history of the Kurukshetra War but also weaves in significant devotional discussions, including the four ultimate goals of life[1] and the religiously significant dialogue in the Bhagavad Gita.[2] Thus, the Mahabharata is a pivotal cultural and religious beacon for many.
At this epic's heart is the story of Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, born in the kingdom of Hastinapura, India, to Queen Kunti and King Pandu. King Pandu was cursed and unable to have children. Queen Kunti, bestowed with a divine gift, invoked Yama, the deity of death and justice, and was blessed with a son, Yudhishthira. Born through divine intervention, Yudhishthira embodied the virtues of honesty (satya), righteousness (dhriti), compassion (daya), integrity and purity (shaucam), self-control (dama), and forgiveness (kshama). Through Yudhishthira's formative years, he laid the foundation for becoming revered as a paragon of virtue.
Rising Tensions: The Kurukshetra War, a monumental clash between the Pandavas and the Kauravas cousins, heirs of the Kuru dynasty, was the culmination of deep-seated enmity. Fuelled by jealousy, childhood rivalry escalated into the cousins' vehement succession disputes. The first stark demonstration of this animosity was Duryodhana's plot to kill the Pandava brothers by setting the lacquer house on fire whilst the brothers slept. The kingdom of Hastinapura was eventually partitioned to diffuse tensions, granting the Pandavas the land of Khandavaprastha. Under the leadership of Yudhishthira, this barren territory was transformed into the thriving kingdom of Indraprastha, inadvertently fanning the flames of jealousy further.
Dice - the Catalyst of War: The journey towards war took a decisive turn with Duryodhana's rigged dice game. Compelled by the warrior's code, Yudhishthira accepted the invitation to play, losing all the Pandavas' worldly possessions and culminating in the humiliation of Draupadi, the brothers' revered wife.
Galvanised, the Pandavas sought justice. Despite Krishna's attempts at mediation, the ensuing negotiations crumbled under the weight of Duryodhana's obstinacy. His refusal to concede even the smallest part of the kingdom to the Pandavas and the brothers' collective indignation following Draupadi's dishonour left no path forward. Thus, the stage was set for the confrontation on the Kurukshetra battlefield.
Symbolically, the ensuing war embodies the enduring quest for dharma through the eternal struggle between good and evil, i.e. between Yudhishthira's embodiment of moral integrity and Duryodhana's epitome of pride, jealousy and greed.
The Eighteen Day War: On the Kurukshetra battlefield, two colossal armies comprising eighteen Akshauhinis (army units), with approximately four million warriors - including charioteers, elephant riders, cavalry, and infantry, clashed. After eighteen days of combat,[3] the battlefield was shrouded in the bodies of the fallen, marking the destruction of both forces. In the aftermath, the Pandavas stood as the victors; among their ranks, only the five brothers and Krishna survived. There were just three survivors on the Kauravas side, with Duryodhana meeting his fate after a mace duel with Bhima, the second Pandava brother. This duel, prompted by Duryodhana's retreat to a lake to heal, effectively extinguished the Kauravas' claim to Hastinapura's throne.
Moral Dilemma and Turning Point: As the leader of the Pandava forces, Yudhishthira's integrity faced a critical test during the Kurukshetra War, a moment that decisively swayed the battle's momentum. The war's tide shifted frequently, with the Pandavas and the Kauravas each claiming victories and suffering losses. The Pandavas, in particular, endured the loss of key allies and faced formidable challenges from warriors such as Bhishma, Dronacharya (Drona), and Karna.
The battle's turning point centred on Drona, the Kauravas' chief commander, celebrated for his strategic genius and martial skill. The Pandavas, recognising Drona's love for his son Ashwatthama as his sole weakness, sought to exploit it. Following Krishna's counsel, Bhima slew an elephant named Ashwatthama and proclaimed its death, aiming to unsettle Drona. Drona, seeking verification from Yudhishthira because of his strict adherence to the truth, was met with a misleading half-truth: "Ashwatthama is dead, but it is an elephant." Faced with a moral dilemma, Yudhishthira uttered the second half of the sentence in a hushed tone, hoping that Drona would not hear. So, whilst not strictly a lie, Yudhishthira suggested the death of Drona's son.
This revelation destabilised Drona, leading him to abandon his arms and ultimately be killed in the chaos of the battle. This pivotal act significantly demoralised the Kaurava forces, catalysing their downfall.
Yudhishthira's Rule and Quest for Salvation: The moment Yudhishthira spoke the half-truth, his chariot, which until then had hovered a few inches off the ground, symbolising his purity and adherence to dharma, fell to the earth. This act reflected Yudhishthira's moral compromise and indicated a stain on his otherwise unblemished character. The symbolism highlights the heavy price we all pay, even for a half, and seemingly justifiable, lie.
Yudhishthira's victory, though pyrrhic, led him to rule Hastinapura with wisdom, justice, and adherence to dharma, fostering an era of prosperity and peace. Yet, the war's scars weighed heavily on him, infusing his reign with a deep sense of duty and compassion. In his twilight years, he sought salvation, renouncing his crown for a final pilgrimage to the Himalayas with his brothers and Draupadi. One by one, his companions fell, leaving Yudhishthira alone to reach heaven's gates, where his life's steadfast adherence to dharma was ultimately rewarded. His life symbolises the pursuit of righteousness and the eternal struggle between moral duty and human frailty, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire and resonate across generations.
Truth is Sacrosanct
Yudhishthira's saga highlights ethical decision-making's complex moral conundrums and intricate nature. On the one hand, he held the truth as sacrosanct, and on the other, he knew that compromising the truth would propel his family towards victory. Modern leaders often face complex scenarios where the distinction between right and wrong is blurred.
The Absolute Nature of Truth: The descent of Yudhishthira's chariot is symbolically significant; it illustrates how even minor deviations from the truth can profoundly impact a leader's ethical stature. While Yudhishthira's moral compromise is understood and empathised, his narrative offers a cautionary stance against moral relativism. Instead, whilst recognising humanity's deep flaws, it steers closely to a Kantian appreciation for the inviolable essence of truth.
Other religious texts also mirror humanity's fragility and our propensity to stray from virtue; however, they seldom endorse falsehood as a morally justified strategy. There are a few exceptions of moral relativism in the Old Testament; for example, the midwives lying to Pharaoh about why they were unable to kill the newborn Hebrew boys and Rahab's lie to protect Israelite spies in Jericho are both portrayed in a positive light. These deceptions, pivotal for preserving life and fulfilling a divine mission, underscore the complex moral fabric woven into our historical and spiritual consciousness.
Yet, the overarching mythological narrative highlights a critical insight: outside of dire exceptions, falsehood undermines personal bonds, erodes trust, and precipitates a cascade of unintended, often harmful, outcomes. This narrative thread advocates for a discerning approach to truthfulness, highlighting its indispensable role in fostering genuine relationships and maintaining the integrity of our social fabric.
Do the Best You Can to Tell the Truth: Yudhishthira's odyssey brings to light the complexity of morality, showing us that even the most virtuous face dilemmas that challenge their ethical resolve. Of course, we are not as righteous as Yudhishthira and are often ensnared by our unconscious, swayed by the whims of our vices and undermined by our shadow-side traits. The best counsel for leaders is to live by the principle of upholding the truth in every situation, consciously trying to eschew deceit and avoid deliberately telling lies. This principle upholds the sacrosanct nature of the truth whilst recognising our flaws and psychological complexities.
Be Truthful and Helpful: Ronald A. Howard, Director of Stanford's Decisions and Ethics Center, advocates for harnessing truth to ameliorate challenging situations and ethical transgressions. He argues that our propensity to deceive stems from a deficit in emotional intelligence - specifically, our failure to empathise with others' perspectives and our inclination towards opting for the path of least resistance.
In a recent interview, Howard is asked about the Anne Frank scenario; he proposes that an individual of exceptional moral stature, akin to Buddha, could navigate such predicaments with the truth as their compass without resorting to moral relativism. He recounts an enlightening tale where Buddha, confronted by a murderer, engaged truthfully with his assailant by acknowledging that he was about to be killed but asked the murderer to do him a favour before killing him. Buddha requested that the killer cut off and then reattach a tree branch, thus illuminating the irrevocable nature of actions and leading the murderer to renounce his evil ways.
At the core of Howard's philosophy lies the principle of being both truthful and helpful. This entails sharing honest information but also considering the recipient's welfare, ensuring that the truth serves a constructive purpose. Such skilful truth-telling can be likened to the careful act of threading a needle with truth, delicately balancing accuracy with the need for sensitivity and positive intent.
This refined approach to upholding the principle of the sacrosanct nature of the truth has significant value for contemporary leaders. It emphasises the importance of aligning honesty and empathy, ensuring that disclosures are made with full consideration of their impact. Through this approach, Howard illuminates a path towards navigating the complexities of human interaction with integrity and thoughtful consideration.
Conclusion
In navigating the rich narratives of "The Weight of a Lie: Embracing Kantian Ethics in Contemporary Leadership," we've journeyed alongside ancient heroes, uncovering the sacrosanct nature of the truth and its indispensable role at the core of effective leadership. Through the tales of Aesop and the epic struggles of Yudhishthira, we find a common thread: the critical importance of truth-telling and the cascading consequences of our decisions around honesty for ourselves and those we manage.
Though centuries apart, these narratives offer a mirror to today's leaders, reflecting the intricate dance between moral integrity and the pragmatic requirements of leadership. Yudhishthira's journey, in particular, underscores the heavy price of even the slightest deviations from truth, illustrating the delicate balance leaders must maintain between ethical imperatives and the complexities of real-world challenges.
Let the wisdom of these stories inspire us to lead lives marked by a commitment to upholding the sacrosanct nature of the truth. In every decision and action, let us be guided by the fundamental principle of doing our best to tell the truth. This commitment transcends leadership; it opens the path for us to realise our full potential.
References
Aesop’s Illustrated Fables, Barnes & Noble, 2013
Ethics for the Real World: Creating a Personal Code to Guide Decisions in Work and Life, Ronald A. Howard, 2008
Foundations of Decision Analysis, Ronald A. Howard, 2015
Lying, Sam Harris, 2014
The Illustrated Mahabharata: The Definitive Guide to India’s Greatest Epic, DK, 2017
The Mahabharata, Vyasa (Author) Smith (Editor, Translator), 2009
[1] The four goals of life are Dharma (righteousness, moral law), Karma (action and consequence), Moksha (liberation or salvation), and Bhakti (devotion).
[2] The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna and is a sacred Hindu scripture.
[3] The number 18 signifies completeness. The 18-day battle and the 18 Akshauhinis can best be interpreted as encompassing the full spectrum of dharma (righteousness), adharma (unrighteousness), life, death, and cosmic order.