Fairness and the Atonement
Here is a thought that I used to share with my Ethics classes at BYU. I think it will be meaningful to all who have worked for a large organization and had concerns about being treated fairly.
In a discussion of a popular
case study in engineering ethics the Departments of Philosophy and Mechanical
Engineering at Texas A&M University contributed the following statement
regarding what constitutes fairness in business dealings:
The concept of fairness is enormously
complex and probably not subject to any simple definition. Perhaps it will be
enough to say that fairness involves at least two elements: First, the person’s decision or
commitment requires free and informed consent. In order to be treated fairly, a person
must be given the opportunity to make decisions in a non-coercive atmosphere and on the basis of as much information as possible. In particular, information
relevant to his decision should not be
deliberately concealed from him.
Second, fairness requires that
harm and benefit be shared in a roughly equal manner, unless there are
other relevant circumstances. For example, it is not fair for one group to
enjoy all of the benefits of a social policy and another group to bear all of
its negative consequences.
This
definition of fairness in business suggests to me that our understanding of
ethics is based on mankind's inherent understanding of the atonement of Christ. I believe these
perceptions of fairness stem from man’s inborn sense of right and wrong. This sense has its origin in the Spirit of
Christ, which accompanies every person who is born into this world (Elder Packer Apr 05 Conference) (Moroni 7:16).
As
an example of this consider these two conditions for business fairness
expressed by the Texas A&M scholars in light of what we know about the
Atonement of Jesus Christ.
First,
a person’s decision or commitment to act requires free and informed consent.
That is, in order to be treated fairly, a person must be given the
opportunity to make decisions in a non-coercive
atmosphere and on the basis of as much
information as possible.
This requirement clearly proceeds from conditions accompanying the Plan of Salvation and
the Atonement of the Savior.
Every person who is born on
Earth and lives to the age of accountability is expected to comply with certain
minimum behaviors in order to experience happiness in this life and some degree
of glory in the next. We are constantly
required to choose from among alternative thoughts and actions. The scriptures are clear
that we are both free and informed as we choose whether we will
follow Christ or not.
A couple of scriptures will
suffice to show this doctrine; it is taught in many places.
Regarding our being informed
Lehi taught his son Jacob in 2 Ne. 2:5: “And men are instructed sufficiently
that they know good from evil.” In verse
27 of that same sermon Lehi taught that “all things are given them (knowledge) which are
expedient unto man.” The world
recognizes that it would be unfair to require an associate to make a decision
or take an action for which he or she was not sufficiently informed, and
particularly if vital information was intentionally withheld.
Regarding our freedom to act
without coercion Lehi was also clear in that same sermon: “. . . they have
become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to
be acted upon . . “, and in the next
verse: “Wherefore, men are free
according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto
man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great
Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death . . .” So we are free to choose and sufficiently
informed. Many other scriptures teach
this; see for example: Alma 12:28-32; Moses 5:10-12; Moses 5:58-59, Moses
6:56-62; Moses 7:32-33; Hel 14:30-31.
Second, fairness requires that the resulting harm or benefit be shared in a roughly equal manner among the parties involved.
This is part of the very
definition of the Atonement. The Father
and the Son share in our joy and glory when we do well. In fact, God has revealed that His glory or happiness is connected to
his bringing to pass our eternal life
or glory or happiness (Moses 1:39).
And if we fail Christ stands
ready to share in that failure. Knowing
that we would all need rescuing He agrees to take upon himself our bad
decisions if we will truly try our best to honor Him and live as he asks
us. Again, a few passages will suffice
out of many.
Amulek testifies to the
Zoramites: “Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among
the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and
that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
. . . And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in
the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed
to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has
faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption
(Alma 34:8 – 16).” For further examples
of Christ’s sharing see Mosiah 15:8-9; Moroni 7:27-28; Alma 7:11-13; Isaiah
53:4-6.
There is an interesting
example in the account of the people of King Noah who had repented of their
sins and chosen to follow Alma into the wilderness. Through the deceptions of Amulon and the
promise-breaking of the Lamanites Alma and his followers came under the
subjection of Amulon and the Lamanites.
Alma and his people recognized that they had sinned under the influence
of King Noah and the Lord chastened them for those bad decisions by allowing
Amulon to strap burdens to their backs and drive them as beasts. But God cannot tolerate slavery for long and
came to the rescue of these people. He
“shared” in their unfortunate predicament by relieving the burdens that were
upon their backs so that they could not feel them (Mosia 24:14).
In the event that we make a
poor choice, causing unhappiness or loss to come to ourselves or some other
person, the Savior is prepared and willing to share the burden of that wrong
choice if we are willing to admit our mistake and seek that He share the burden
with us. This is in stark contrast to
Satan who has always been unwilling to share in the misery of his followers but
laughs when they fail and happily drags them down to hell (Alma 30:60; 34:39).
And so we see that the
secular definition of fairness in business practice follows strongly from the
eternal truths of the Atonement as they are taught to men by the Spirit of
Christ. As Moroni says the Spirit of
Christ enters into all men and women when they are born (Moroni 7:16; D&C
84:45-46) and Christ himself teaches that “all things bear record of Him.
(Moses 6:63).”
