The Parable of the Sadhu

Case Recount

1 New Zealander came staggering with

a body

Dumped the almost naked, barefooted Sadhu at McCoy’s

feet and left

McCoy took his pulse; Stephen and 4 Swiss gave outer clothings

McCoy took off, leaving the Sadhu

with Stephen

Stephen attempted to help the Sadhu but

was suffering from altitude sickness

Japanese refused to transport the Sadhu

down to the hut with their horse

Sherpas carried Sadhu down to a rock

at 15,000 feet; Japanese gave the

Sadhu food and drink

Sadhu was last seen throwing rocks at

dogs

Fate of Sadhu unknown

What happened high on the Himalayan pass? Describe all the people who were there. Why is the incident so important and memorable for McCoy?

Sadhu

• Hindu monk

• Renounce material attachments, food, clothing and shelter

• Leaves behind all material attachments

• Lives in caves, forests and temples

• Never ending pilgrimage

• Rugged life (eg. early morning bath in cold mountain)

• Wears little or no clothing

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_4425905_become-hindu-sadhu.html

Why is the incident so important and memorable for McCoy?

• Doesn’t know the final outcome

• Lessons about the corporate world was learnt

What do you think is the “basic ethical dilemma” referred to by McCoy?

Basic Ethical Dilemma

Should McCoy have done more?

What factors may have influenced the various hikers’ decision-making? The perception among some that “the Sadhu has himself to blame for the predicament”, the Sadhu was not

deserving of the same solicitude due to a “well-dressed Western woman”, the need to clear the passage before the ice passage

melted, “ain’t my problem”, or all of them?

Hikers’ Decision Factors

“What right does an almost naked pilgrim who

chooses the wrong trail have to disrupt our lives?”

• Unexpected and unwanted event

• Sadhu should be blamed for his predicament

– “Ain’t my problem” attitude

– Sadhu could have chosen a safer route

Hikers’ Decision Factors

“…at the apex of one of the most powerful

experiences of our lives. Some years the pass is so bad no one gets over it.”

Personal goal versus moral obligation

• Once in a lifetime experience

• “Where is the limit of our responsibility in a situation like this?”

Hikers’ Decision Factors

“Each was willing to do his bit just so long as it was

not too inconvenient. When it got to be a

bother, everyone just passed the buck to

someone else and took off”

Unwillingness to go beyond their capabilities

• Pushing responsibilities to each other

• No shared values in the group

• Follow the majority

Sherpas’ Decision Factors

Sherpas “believed they could not carry a man down 1,000 feet to the hut, reclimb the slope, and get across safely

before the snow melted.”

Understand the climate and route better and see the need not to delay any longer

Sherpas’ Decision Factors

“…what the Sherpas would have done if the sadhu had been a well- dressed Nepali, or what

the Japanese would have done if the sadhu had

been a well-dressed Asian, or what you would have

done if the sadhu had been a well-dressed Western woman?”

Discrimination

• Dressing

• Gender

• Nationality

What excuses did McCoy give for his actions? McCoy did not know whether the Sadhu lived or died. Should

he have inquired? Give reasons for your answer.

McCoy’s Excuses

• Everyone had sufficiently done their part

• Sadhu was well enough to throw rocks at a dog

• Reaching the summit was a once in a lifetime opportunity

• Stressful situation where they had prioritize climbing the summit over the Sadhu

Should McCoy have enquired?

Ethics of care “certain communities and people are more vulnerable than others, and that the non-vulnerable population should afford extra consideration to the vulnerable communities while making decisions that might affect them.”

Yes

Source: http://ethicsofisl.ubc.ca/?page_id=170

Should McCoy have enquired?

Knowing whether the Sadhu lived or died makes no significant impact on McCoy

No

“The moral universe of the Sadhu teaches that death is an illusion and that one is re-born in any case. The Sadhu is in this predicament because he chose this course

of action. So from the Sadhu’s perspective, it is his karma to perish in the Himalayas, and

who am I to interfere with his fate?” Evaluate the moral persuasiveness of this approach.

Moral Persuasiveness of the Approach

Should not interfere

• Know about Hindu teachings

• Sadhu is going to be reborn anyway

• Sadhu voluntarily took the more dangerous route

• It is his fate to die

Should interfere

• Uncertainty of the Sadhu’s fate

• ‘Cannot interfere with his fate’ ?

• We should do what we believe in

• What if a dying Christian man is lying beside the Sadhu?

Do you think that the others – New Zealanders, Japanese, etc. acted ethically? Analyze the conduct of

the various participants in this saga.

Teleological or Deontological?

Teleological

• Egoism

• Act Utilitarianism

• Rule Utilitarianism

Deontological

• Kantian ethics

• Veil of Ignorance

Analysis of conduct of the hikers

Principle Decision Reasoning

Act Utilitarianism

Ethical • Hikers • Porters • Sherpas livelihood and status

Egoism Ethical • Promotes their long term interests – reach the summit

Analysis of conduct of the hikers

Principle Decision Reasoning

Rule Utilitarianism

Unethical • Leave a dying person unattended (life is precious)

Kantian Unethical • Moral duty • Principle of Universality • Principle of Humanity

- Do not treat people as a means to an end

- Regardless of circumstance

Veil of Ignorance

Unethical • Impartiality - No requisite knowledge of

position, social status etc.

What are the similarities between the ethical decision-making in the Parable of The Sadhu and the

day to day decisions made in business?

Individual vs. Group Ethics

“Only Stephen was willing to take charge, but he could

not gain adequate support from the group to care for

the sadhu. ”

• Conflict of interest between individuals & group

• Organizational goals influences the day to day decision making

• E.g. Company’s decision to maximize profit instead of reducing carbon footprint vs. Individual’s desire to protect the environment

“When it got to be a bother, everyone just

passed the buck to someone else and took

off.”

Level of Commitment

Similar to the shifting of responsibility among departments in an organization

Personal Feelings

“Had we mountaineers been free of stress caused by the effort and the high altitude, we might have

treated the sadhu differently.”

• Emotivism – stress influences business decision making

• E.g. Retrenchment to keep the company afloat

Multiculturalism

“It is management's challenge to be sensitive to individual needs […]

The cross-cultural nature of the group added a

further layer of complexity. ”

• Difference in beliefs and values lead to a clash in diverse cultural preference

• E.g. The need to establish connections (guan xi) when working with Chinese counterparts

It is clear that the author somehow feels guilty. Do you think he is guilty of ethical misconduct?

Why McCoy feels guilty?

Felt he did not act according to his personal moral standards

– Did not provide enough care for the Sadhu

– Did not attempt to convince the group to help the Sadhu

Guilty of Ethical Misconduct?

• No attempts to convince anyone to stay behind to help

• Did not do anything to help the Sadhu

Yes

Guilty of Ethical Misconduct?

• Rule Utilitarianism

– Unethical to leave a dying man unattended

• Kantian

– Moral duty to save someone in need of help

• Rawlsian’s Principles of Justice

– Did not offer help despite being in an advantaged position

Yes

Guilty of Ethical Misconduct?

• Did not expect McCoy to put his life at risk

• Act Utilitarianism

– Entire group will feel a sense of achievement for reaching the summit

No

In a city-state such as Singapore with its mix of managers, employees,

customers, and suppliers from different countries, ethnic backgrounds, and adhering to different religions, how can the lessons of the Parable be effectively

translated and applied in an organization that operates in Singapore?

Characteristics of Singapore

Diverse Workforce

Multi-cultural

Multi-racial

Lessons

• Organizations should have common goals and mutual understanding

• A leader who is able to facilitate the decision making process

• Rawlsian - Organizations should provide more benefits to the less advantaged

Applications

Provide environment for individual voices to be heard

Organization can agree on collective/institutional ethics that employees can respect and follow

Create awareness of common prejudices and stereotypes

Embrace a multi-ethnic and multi-religious workforce

Applications

Conclusion

Conclusion

• McCoy is not guilty of ethical misconduct

• Should have enquired about the Sadhu