[Opinion] Public Officials Blinded by Personal Gain

The distinction between public and private is something we learn in junior high and high school ethics class and something that adults do not forget to teach us. It is, I think, one of the most important ethical distinctions for living in human society. Even children who may act as they wish in the home act differently in public places. Whatever form it may take, the designation of a public sphere as distinct from the private sphere is a fundamental part of forming a society.

Consequently, if a person in public office cannot distinguish between what is public and private, it is hard to keep order in society. The renowned ancient philosopher Aristotle who said, `human beings are social animals` took the weight of public office very seriously, and when he spoke about virtue he did so in the context of public officials exercising their virtue in the public sphere. The same insight is found in Eastern thought as well where Confucian virtue usually refers to a righteous person`s virtue and the righteous person has the character of a public leader.

What, then, do we mean by virtue? We can write hundreds of pages on the subject, but the essential meaning of virtue can be expressed in the verb, `ought`. A human being ought to act like a human being, and a public official ought to act like a public official. What, then, is it to act like a public official? One does not need many talents to do so. Only two things will suffice for a public official to be virtuous and carry out his given responsibilities.

First, a public official must not even think about personal gain. When he is carrying out his duties, he must not think about his own personal profit. Furthermore, he must not think about profiting those who are related or connected to him such as his family, relatives, friends, or friends of friends. This point is fundamental to the nature of public office.

The current `political power corruption` cases are connected to public officials seeking their personal gain. A public official seeking personal profit is guilty of the worst kind of self-centeredness. The sages taught that self-centeredness in the public sphere will lead shallow men in leadership to act as they want and sycophants will run rampant from top to bottom of the public office. The 17th century French writer Francois La Rochefoucauld wrote, "The self-centered man is the biggest flatterer among flatterers." Some readers may wonder what this has to do with anything we are talking about, but the connection is self-evident. A person blinded by selfish interests will use all his power to flatter in order to achieve his aims by whatever means necessary. The only thing that matters is to get to the destination and to use the power that the destination grants him. All of this happens because the private and the public are not kept separate.

Second, a public official must be clear about his responsibilities. When a father scolds his children at home, the children may say "we are sorry.` and the incident will pass because it is something that happens inside the home. When, however, a big scandal erupts on the national level, there is nothing more irresponsible than for public officials to say "The fault belongs to everyone of us." To say that everyone is responsible means that no one will take formal responsibility.

Responsibility must be expressed in singular terms such as `my` responsibility rather than our responsibility, so that someone can actually take responsibility. Such singular pronouncements can later become collective, but to say from the outset that everyone of them is responsible makes it easy for everyone to avoid taking responsibility.

Even on the level of responsibility, the difference between the private and public sphere becomes clear. Although in the private sphere, it is seen as something virtuous to take collective responsibility for an individual`s action, the public sphere demands that the collective and individual responsibilities be clearly distinguished. This is the nature and virtue of public office. This is the most practical of philosophical teachings be it from Confucius or Aristotle, East or West. It is also the first principle of political philosophy.

This is because political philosophy treats the subject of public officials and the nature of the public sphere. The people do want anything besides the public officials working hard and with the right attitude for the common good rather than pursuing their own gains.

Kim Yong-Suk (Philosopher, Professor at Gregorian University, Rome)