PRINCIPLES OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP: HOW STOICISM CAN BEST PREPARE OUR FUTURE LEADERS

Abstract

The ability to act ethically is a vital characteristic of a strong leader. Currently, the Navy lacks formal education on ethical frameworks. Instead, it relies on initial training, various commissioning sources, and on-the-job training to ensure cursory knowledge, thereby leaving ethical foundations unaddressed. Moreover, reliance on traditional Consequentialist and Non-Consequentialist norms and rules leaves little room for ambiguity in the gray area so prevalent in today’s decision environments. Because one cannot prepare for every ethical challenge, one must be well versed in a virtuous principles-based approach to ethics rooted in Stoic ethics. In this thesis, I discuss why Stoic philosophy is the most advantageous approach to Navy leadership training by focusing on the Principles of Stoic Leadership and how they can be put into action.