Grassroots of Integrity

Integrity is a key factor for the Declaration having any real impact in the world. So let’s make sure we all agree on what we mean by integrity.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines integrity as “1. the quality or state of being complete; unbroken condition; wholeness; entirety; 2. the quality of state of being unimpaired; perfect condition; soundness; 3. the quality or state of being sound moral principle; uprightness; honesty and sincerity.”

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states: “What is it to be a person of integrity? Ordinary discourse about integrity involves two fundamental intuitions: first, that integrity is primarily a formal relation one has to oneself, or between parts or aspects of one’s self; and second, that integrity is connected in an important way to acting morally, in other words, there are some substantive or normative constraints ion what it is to act with integrity. How these two intuitions can be incorporated into a consistent theory of integrity is not obvious, and most accounts of integrity tend to focus on one of these intuitions to the detriment of the other.”

A Harvard Research Paper states “Integrity is the state or condition of being whole, complete, unbroken, sound, perfect condition. For a person, add integrity is a matter of that person’s word, which includes what is said by action and behavior.”

The Declaration relies on signers’ words, the stands represented by those who’ve joined as signers. Those who sign the Declaration agree to hold themselves accountable to abide by its tenets and to stand for their Personal Declarations of Action – their word.  Archimedes said, “Give me a place to stand, and I’ll move the world.” When a stand is taken it inspires everyone. It elevates the quality of the dialogue and engenders integrity, alignment, and deep trust. Taking a stand brings forth new paradigms and shifts the course of history. Thus, the integrity of the Declaration is as good as the stands of the signers. Without the signer’s word – and aligned action - the Declaration has no integrity.

If signers merely add their Personal Declarations of Action with no intent or commitment to act on them, if they merely post something that sounds good with no intent to stand for that Declaration, the integrity of the Declaration and all the other signers is compromised. The Declaration - and the additional promises for the world added by the signers - is an example of how individuals can come together to change the world, to achieve together what cannot be achieved individually.