Can Ethics Be Taught?

The conversations between professors have a bizarre and curious sound to our conceited ears. On our ongoing course on Ethics, we, we being two professors and the class, discussed some of the worlds problems - Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and even Iraq. Starting at Is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) beneficial for society?, we somehow reached the sublime ideas of the economics of kleptocracies and the examined the fundamental ideas behind why Nigeria, a shining example of a progressive third world country in the 1950s (It had a far greater economic development as compared to India at that time), has turned into a failed state doused in ethnic violence in the short span of half a lifetime - It has to do with the politics of rents, which I may explain later.

The very idea of a course on Ethics seems peculiar. As we concluded in the very first session of this course 4 sessions ago, Ethics cannot be taught. And yet we have a course on it, which gives an appearance that the whole bit is just an exercise in futility, a whim perhaps of our lofty faculty. Why do we have this course?

I should explain that the whole Nigeria part of the last session is remarkably interesting. I cannot vouch for its correctness - surely I cannot argue for or against such an abstract idea (economic rents leads to corruption, economic production does not). I can merely state that the correct or not, the idea had me hooked. After pondering about the idea, I do not think I can put it down in words. Perhaps we can discuss it over coffee someday.

The conclusion though, I can state confidently: Big Oil, or in general, giant corporations, are largely responsible for Nigeria's state. Trying to buy peace for themselves (and their employees) from local factions has led to the factions being armed, being better armed, and eventually leading to bloodshed of unparalleled magnitude and the corrupt kleptocracy that we see now.

And here is where it connected with CSR! What is CSR? Essentially corporations buying peace for themselves by helping the local populace! Which companies carry out the most CSR activities? Those who operate in urban areas? No! It it those very companies who operate in rural areas, where the law is less enforced, where there is some form of local goonda or landlord that [the companies] spend trainloads of money on this great idea called CSR - so that the locals will leave them to carry out their business. Doing this is just one step removed to directly paying the local mafias money to allow business and perhaps a second cousin to paying hafta to do business.

Would you be part of such a corporation? Often, what choice will you have? Will you be a whistle-blower if you see something wrong? The first idea that that we are told as we enter the hallowed portals of multibillion-dollar companies is this:

1. You are merely a cog in the wheel.
2. Be a team player. What they actually mean is suspend your own thougts and do what you are told.
3. The most important one: If you blow the whistle on something we are doing that is ethically or morally wrong, be prepared to watch your career suffer, both inside the firm and with other firms.

Now obviously they sugarcoat these ideas in sweet words and motivational speeches. But the idea remains the same, even if it is masked by a thick veil of "gratitude towards workplace and society".

And now the objective of this course seems clear: To warn us about the future, so that we are alert about this, for we are the next generation of corporate managers. Also, I guess they hope that some of us will take heed to the words and not remain silent spectators to ethically corrupt practises. It is just this hope, in my opinion, that brings some of our best professors to class to talk to us about philosophy in a non-credit course. Yes, lets be honest - this is no course on Ethics. It is a course on philosphy. And I think it is one of the most intellectually stimulating and important courses we have.

Rounding up the CSR bit - What is the alternative to CSR? Instead of spending the money directly, the company should pay it out as a dividend and let the individual indulge in socially constructive work. Firstly, it is not the place of a company to put money at tasks other than its mandate. Bill Gates is a philanthropost but he doesn't spend Microsoft's money on it - he uses his own. Ditto for Azim Premji.

Before today, I unquestioningly believed that CSR was great for society. Philosophy class is an eye-opener.

Chilled

A chilly December Winter's night, sitting under the moon and stars. Comfy sofas and a tall chilled mint hookah. Butterflies, green, red, yellow, blue, on the wall - turning slowly as coals burn bright and crackle.

A lone guy with his guitar sings for us. Far from the streets, it's quiet. A little retreat. Hot creamy chicken soup and, for once, no work to go around.

Life is looking up. A perfect end to a hectic year. And if I can manage that trek at the turn of the year, I'll just sit and look at stars far from the city.

Peace seems just within grasp now.

Smooth Sailing

Life is good. Coursework has reduced substantially and there's lots of free time this semester. All I do everyday is guitar - gym - badminton. Ain't it the life? :-D

We still have classes for 6 days a week unfortunately. But having evenings to do all the nothings I want to is great. I think I can pick up on those projects I've wanted to do but haven't had the time. Along with getting back to Maya, Photoshop, Vue and Bryce :-).

I'm thinking of some new photography stunts - HDR photography and Multi-pass photography. I shall get down to it in a few days.

But now, it's time to clean my room. Tada!

Exit Wound and Microscopes

Imagery springs forth from a disturbed mind:

Made in Photoshop.

Someone keep the city safe.

Interview Horror Stories

Some people are geniuses. Here is a story of one.

His name was Broca (Name changed to protect identity). Broca was sitting for summer placements. He enters his interview and Mr. Interviewer kindly asks him to sit before asking, "So tell me something about the current Indian economy."

Broca says, "Sure. Could I have a minute to think please?".

Now Broca was a genius. He had spent the last night researching on things like the Barrack Obama, India-China, the company's director's name and such stuffs. He was well prepared for this interview. The whole of the night. Extremely well prepared.

He was also sleepy.

So, in his minute of soltitude, he drifts off to sleep sitting in the interviewee's chair - the kind of "I must stay awake. But damn I'm soo sleepy" kind of drifty sleep that we all experience in a class where time seemingly stands still. A minute later the interviewer wakes him and asks if he wants water.

Yes, this is the story of Broca the Genius. It is a true story. He really fell asleep during an interview!

Stray Cat Strut

Today I tripped and fell down stairs and managed not to break any bones. I did twist my left ankle rather badly though. But this post isin't about that.

No. This is instead about Cats.

I'll be the first to admit that in all my years, I haven't associated with them, or got to know them, or thrown them a bone or anything. But lately, cats seem to have been thrust into my life like things that are thrusted into lives without being wanted.

Just the other day, I came back from class, all tired and weary. I open my door and what do I see? A cute orangey cat is plonked right in the middle of my room, staring at me with it's bright green eyes - pretending as if the room is her Kingdom and my books are her subjects. "Off with his head!" she thinks maybe?

"Wierd!", I think. "Damn, confounded! He's back!", she thinks.

And runs straight out of the open door.

Now this is a great mystery to me. How in the world did it get in there? Did it enter in the morning before I left for class? Or is this simply a minifestation of Schrödinger's Uncertainty Principle? But anyhow, I moved on to more profound thoughts, like "What's for lunch?" and soon the Cat-incident was forgotten.

Not yet beaten, the cute cat has yet another brush-in with me.

It was a dark and stormy night. No it wasn't. Yes it was. No, let me tell the story. Damn inner concience.

I was sleeping. I must've been 6 AM in the morning when I heard a thud. Slowly I raise my head and I see a cat scrambling up my bookshelf! There happens to be a window above my room door and she had somehow managed to get up there an jump into my room!

But silly cat.. realizes I'm inside and must now scramble out. She jumps onto my desk, scrambles up my bookshelf, drops all my cards (yes some friends did send me cards on my birthday. Shame on you, all those who didn't.), and jumps out the window again to land on the other side with yet another thud.

Pretty damn cool.

And that brings me to the end of my rant, and to the point which I might as well have just stated instead of rambling on. And that point is this: I wish I could land on my feet like a cat instead of twisting it and having to hop around on one foot like a (slightly defective) rabbit.

Llama's Carpet

You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now its all gone
But the scars remain

~ Mark Knopfler

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Who's the Darkest of Them All?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Shall I leave my Friends alone
Hidden in a Twilight Hall?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Shall we dare the Dragon?

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Gone is the Wisdom of a Thousand Years
How shall We leave the Lost Road?

Insanity said Coldly:
Be aware the Storm gets closer.
And the Story Ends.

... I'm lost in a R. R.'s fantasy world of wars and wolfs. Time to spread your little wings and fly away. Fly away, far away!

Blood Sugar

Tiny Rebel Moments

Today I submitted my exam paper to Prof. Cauchy, the famous mathematician.

No, he doesn't really teach us - he's French. He is also dead.

The punchline being ofcourse that in the exam answer sheet, where it said "Name of Professor" instead of writing Prof. Koshy, a Mallu marketeer (and a God-level prof), I wrote in big, bold letters, "Prof. Cauchy".

Yesterday, our paper was to "Prof. M.S. Sriram". Feeling adventerous, I swished my pen twice, deftly converted the S's to dollars and wrote "Prof. M.$. $riram" instead. It fits perfectly - he teaches us Accounting! :-D

Back in college I was a rebel. I grew my hair and I jumped out of classrooms via the windows. I scandalized teachers and back in IIT I was a "rebel" too - I took pride in *zero* studies and I generally pretended to admire Ernesto Che Guevara and I also sneaked my car (with Cake music (Frequent car-ers will know what I mean)) out late at night when my parents were asleep.

But no more. In this new college of mine, jumping out of windows is a long way off - decorum demands that I don't even sneeze the wrong way. That's why there's such joy in the little things - a word here, a pun there.

Reports lined with Douglassey phrases and a paragraph in the middle written in Shakespearean English. Vandalism of Profs names in exams. Just little things. But they mark my existence more than all the 23-page assignments that I write.