What Moral Psychology Can Tell Us About Army Ethics | Sam Kolling | TEDxWestPoint

[@tonyborowski4363]

This cadet gave a compelling presentation of which many of our young Army officers need to hear. Having been in command both at home and abroad, I recognized the importance of understanding how situations affect ethical behavior. From power and responsibility to generating a quality culture, the commander can indirectly formulate an environment that promotes ethical practices within the unit. Unfortunately, this philosophy is a lost art as most leaders solely rely on regulations or policy to address ethical violations. The challenge lies in the leader’s ability to think and anticipate situational changes within their environment so that they can intercede in order to maintain discipline and protect those in their charge. I have this many times but it is worth repeating-It is better and more economical to apply preventative medicine of quality leadership than respond with triage to an unethical climate.

[@anonimo5912]

This was good, where or how can I read his thesis?

[@jeffswett5553]

good talk. If the Army is smart and places him right, this guy will go far.

[@azizaelkadiri7272]

Merci pour votre attention

[@jvolstad]

Very interesting. He made a number of good points regarding ethics and situations. MSG James Volstad US Army Retired VA Volunteer Audie Murphy VAMC San Antonio, Texas

[@fytubevw]

Thanks Sam!

[@OdsnFilms]

Since Kolling is utilizing Military Ethics in context of Moral Psychology/Ethics which seems oxymoronic in my perspective ... Could Kolling please use 3 Military Situations/Events which demonstrate your thesis statement of what Moral Psychology/Ethics can tell us about any given Military Soldier/Subject? 1st Situation Any given WWII Death March 2nd Situation Vietnam 1968 Mi Lai Massacre 3rd Situation Veteran Suicide/Homicide rates after any given Type of War that has occurred Globally from the Past to the Present. I would greatly appreciate an honest reply from Sam Kolling based on his philosophical knowledge in Military Ethics at his earliest convenience...

[@todydn]

Bro you need to talk to my boss you hit every nail on the head basically it's golden rule treat people as you wish them to treat you

[@marcodigiovanni160]

The _'average_ Human Being', is unconscious, you _lead_ soldier Taken to the extreme, the good remains so, for those who choose it consciously Moral relativism is as relevant as it is to remain unconscious for the unconscious people

[@RushOrbit]

That's the 4% who stopped to pick up the papers even though they didn't find a dime, those are who lead. That is also what this cadet is doing, he's talking to all the betas who think of human development in simplistic terms. He's leading.

[@hexenex]

Amazing talk.

[@Pontonius47]

Brilliant.

[@alexandraalmanzar570]

mmm...., I think I love him.

[@robscanlan]

lol

[@zappsoren]

I find this presentation quite misleading. First, showing that situational factors matter plainly does not imply that personality and character does not matter. Secondly, many recent studies leaning to the situational side are difficult to excecute in a controlled manner and suffer from methodological issues, Thridly, many of these studies does not replicate, Forthly, some of the notable situationalists - such as Dan Ariely mentioned here - have been found to engage in fraudulent research. Fiths, most of the studies referred to in the talk are old and largely considered insufficiently rigurous. Sixths, most people in acual situations are invested in actual relationships, which are not well accounted for by the majority of situationalist studies, although relationships obviously matter (such as being someones parent). Finally, there are plenty of studies that suggest that personality traits affect moral behavior (psycopaths, for example are not to be trusted with caring for your kids). ... The truth is more complicated that what is suggested in this talik. A soldier, it should be noted, is more than a relativistic robot that mechanically responds to situations (and yes, there are examples both real braverly and kindness, as well as real cruelty in the war in Ukraine, where real traits are to some extent revealed; think for example about president Zelensky).

[@zappsoren]

... Also they have many notable virue ethicists that do not draw on Aristotle, for example in traditional Chinese philosophy (Laozi, Mengzi, etc.) and in Indian philosophy.

[@qwertyuser8541]

12:25

[@carriebruneau8270]

this guy is dreamy 😍

[@dr.haniakasheh.3560]

LOVELY!

[@065Tim]

The prison experiment was so badly executed it should not be used as reference. There are enough other experiments and historical events to refer to.

[@advancedmicrodevices8500]

True Moral Psychology teaches that most of the morals people use today originated with the Ten Commandments and King Solomon's moral proverbs. Almost all laws in the Western world are derived from, or based upon, these two sets of moral teachings. As researchers now take a much closer look at these moral teachings, we are finding they are far more advanced than previously thought. For example, proverbs makes absolutely no distinction between a man and a woman. There are no verses that say a woman has fewer rights than a man, or a woman must wear certain garments or walk behind a man. Nor do the Ten Commandments contain the slightest amount of sexism. #1. The Ten Commandments were most likely copied down by Moses when he entered the tomb of a Hyksos pharaoh, which lends us to believe they are much older than the time of Moses (abt. 1,500 BC). The Hyksos in Ancient Egypt are generally regarded as being the Hebrews mentioned in the Bible. Hyksos pharaohs were buried in mountainsides, while strictly Egyptian pharaohs were buried underground. One Egyptian pharaoh actually has the Ten Commandments inscribed into one wall of his underground tomb. #2. King Solomon's book of moral proverbs are likely also much older than King Solomon's time (abt. 950 BC). Numerous verses were taught by Egyptian pharaohs who lived much earlier than Solomon. The breakdown of the name "Solomon" is first "solo" which means "one", combined with the word for the main god of Ancient Egypt which is "Amun". Pronounced together we have "Solo Amun" or simply "Solomon".

[@RushOrbit]

The commandments were a set of rules created around an existing set of morals that people held. It's a smaller unit within. The moral code of a new society shapes set of rules they will choose, like the US Constitution. We picked those rules based on a set of exiting moral code. Morals are to the ten commandments what seconds are to a minute.

[@callsofscv]

At the end of the day, we can still argue that God literally spoke this to us. As he will until the last generation of man.

[@j_5244]

"God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8

[@Hurdle11C]

I didn't know Cadets wore NDSM or that they could get Air Assault. Enjoy your first Platoon LT.

[@TacticsClub1]

He may be prior service or received thoses awards during summer training.

[@advancedmicrodevices8500]

BTW, why are the first two early moral teachers he mentions Muslims? Where is the Ten Commandments and King Solomon's moral proverbs, which is the main book of morals used in the Western world for thousands of years.

[@RushOrbit]

The ten commandments are more the set of rules chosen based on a set of existing morals/ethics. So not entirely sure it necessary expands so much on that topic. Not everything is a conspiracy to push diversity you know? lol

[@RushOrbit]

Oh I get it, you're a SJW for the right wing so you got triggered by this. My bad.

[@anonymousprofessor7954]

I'm a psychologist and hope the military isn't listening to guys like this.

[@065Tim]

-Make people feel important -Make people happy -Keep people well fed and rested. Yeah, let's hope the military won't listen to him. If you served one day you'd know the military never did! What is your counterpoint anyway? You should keep your soldiers miserable to prevent warcrimes?

[@Sobieskicharge]

Where is this guy today? Can't find anything

[@vg60828]

Once he gets to a unit he will see what the world actually looks like.

[@callsofscv]

The key points are important guidelines, but not definitive.

[@065Tim]

You are representing the barrel that makes apples go bad.

[@BiggestRedditor]

A cadet lol. He hasn't even been in the real army

[@kamonnomak12]

He spoke objectively about a topic using research, his experience on active duty is irrelevant. His message was clear and well-founded, something not common in the military today. Instead of identifying ways to discredit this young leader, you should be proud that he is one of the military's future officers.

[@Beretta249]

So you think he's right.

[@TacticsClub1]

I assume you are paying a compliment of how sharp and well prepared West Point Cadets are. The speaker is a senior (a Firstie) and a Platoon Leader or Battalion Staff Officer in the Corps of Cadets. He is about a month from graduation.

[@patricksantos4381]

You should work with him. Hes an outstanding infantry leader and I'd fight for him and with him at any point in time.

[@Willem969]

Smart kid. Insightful about leadership. I hope he's a major or something now.