Case Studies and A Couple of Philosophies

Once again, the novel I am reading relates in an unexpected way to our class.  In this instance it relates in a specific way that can be taken more broadly as well.

The lesson the main character - Lin - is learning has been continued.  And the main point is now brought to this: 'Sometimes it is necessary to do the wrong thing for the right reasons.  The important thing is to be sure that our reasons are right, and that we admit the wrong - that we do not lie to ourselves, and convince ourselves that what we do is right.'

This brought me back to yesterday's discussion of the church case study.  The woman in the story was doing something wrong.  But, was she doing it for the right reasons?  And was she honest with herself about her actions?

Initially she believed her actions were for the right reasons.  However, as someone pointed out, if she truly thought them to be just and right why would she have been so reluctant to fess up to them?  She was not willing to admit that her actions were wrong until she'd been caught.  The whole idea also reminds me of Thoreau's ideas of civil disobedience. If you believe something is just or unjust it is your duty to stand up for or against it but o do so in a non-violent and "civil" manner.

When I taught this to my English III students I was always careful to emphasize one main point: you must be willing to accept the consequences to your actions.  This can be taken in the case studies we've done.  For instance, in the church case study, if the woman truly believed her actions were just and right, she should have been willing to stand up for them (of course, I don't think Thoreau had stealing from a church in mind, but you get the idea).  And this should be true throughout the workplace. 

If, as a CPA, you are asked or told to do something that is not right, you have the opportunity to stand up for or against that action.  However, you must realize that you are accepting the consequences of your actions.  In our case study, the plant manager believed it was right to get the orders in on time for customers.  If this wasn't accomplished, he believed it would make the plant suffer and there would be potential for customers to be lost, snowballing the problem into something greater.  He took an action he believed to be best for all and must be willing to accept the consequence of that.