Integrity and Ethics

Many people appear to use the word "integrity" in a vague manner as an alternative to the perceived political incorrectness of using blatantly moralistic terms such as "good" or ethical. In this sense the term often refers to a refusal to engage in lying, blaming or other behavior generally seeming to evade accountability.

According to encarta msn dictionary, the word 'INTEGRITY' define as follow:

Noun
 
Definition:
 
1. possession of firm principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards

2. completeness: the state of being complete or undivided ( formal )
o  the territorial integrity of the nation

3. wholeness: the state of being sound or undamaged ( formal )
o  public confidence in the integrity of the voting process

Wikipedia describes,
Integrity is consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles. Depth and breadth of a value system may also be significant factors due to their congruence with a wider range of observations. A value system may evolve over time while retaining integrity if inconsistencies are accounted for and resolved.

Testing of Integrity
A value system's accountability can be tested subjectively by a person's individual measures or objectively by the following mathematical or scientific methods.

Integrity in Mathematical Proofs
The philosophy of mathematics bases integrity on consistency of mathematical proof, which one can test weakly or strongly, as part of the process of differentiating it from folk mathematics. Mathematical integrity becomes strengthened through definition as the result of a tautology and where it demonstrably forms a part of a larger and consistent body of mathematics.

Integrity in Relationship to Value Systems, Seen Strictly from a Philosophy of Mathematics/Philosophy of Science Perspective
A value is an assumption upon which implementation or other values can be extrapolated. A value system is a set of consistent values and measures. A system with perfect integrity yields a singular extrapolation, which can be tested via the Scientific Method.

Testing Theories via the Scientific Method
The integrity of science is based on a set of testing principles known as the scientific method. To the extent that a proof follows the requirements of the method, it is considered scientific. The scientific method includes measures to ensure unbiased testing and the requirement that the hypothesis have falsifiability.

Integrity of a value system is tested scientifically by using the values, methods and measures of the system to create a hypothesis of an expected cause and effect relationship. When the cause creates the expected effect consistently amongst multiple unbiased testers, the value system is said to have integrity.

For example, Newtonian Physics, General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics are three value systems at odds with each other that all produce accurate scientific results within their respective domains. As such, the Scientific Method is not useful for identifying absolute truth, but for testing the integrity of a value system and thereby its usefulness for extrapolation within its specified domain.

Integrity (Ethical Concept)
People are said to have integrity to the extent that they behave according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold. The etymology of the word relates it to the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete). Integrity comprises the personal inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from honesty and consistency of character.

Hypocrisy results when one part of a value system is demonstrably at odds with another and the person or group of people holding those values fails to account for the discrepancy. Hypocrisy is considered to be the opposite of integrity.

Integrity in Modern Ethics
There exists, however a more formal study of the term integrity and its meaning in modern ethics. It is often understood not only as a refusal to engage in behavior that evades responsibility, but as an understanding of different modes or styles in which some discourse takes place, and which aims at the discovery of some truth.