CHAPTER 19: Character Assessment in Business Ethics Education

As evidenced by the opening quote from the nineteenth century social philosopher, Herbert Spencer, recognition of the important role of character is longstanding in nature. It did not simply commence with the recent financial collapse of AIG, Countrywide, Bear Sterns, Merrill Lynch, Enron, and Lehman Brothers, among all too many others. Many citizens are increasingly seeing the potentially grave consequences of these dishonest and fraudulent actions by our business and political leaders. Considered together, they threaten not only the financial well-being of American workers, but also the very moral fiber of our nation (Callahan, 2004; Wright, 2006). Unfortunately, and especially so in these trying times, a number of social commentators have eulogized the possibility that character, if not dead is dying (Hunter, 2000; Wright & Huang, 2008).