Preamble to a Code of Ethics: Artists
This document is a preamble to a code of ethics for a cosmopolitan art collective. We offer an invitation to the global creative community to embrace a collective discourse of universal morality based on the principles of nonviolence while seeking proactive pursuits that stand against injustice and promote cultural diversity, intellectualism, and higher consciousness thought. Like Freire, we conceptualize a dialogue of critical thinking “which discerns an indivisible solidarity between the world and the people and admits of no dichotomy between them” (Freire 2017, 92). We envision the global community as Marcus Aurelius does, “the world as a living being – one nature, one soul (Aurelius 2003, 46). This cosmopolitan collective of artists seeks to draw forth courage, virtue, and solidarity within the human race as we face increasing tides of anti-intellectualism, bigotry, violence, and authoritarianism. Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel states: “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest” (Wiesel 1986). How then shall we protest? Protest takes many forms, from public demonstrations against state-sponsored violence to the quiet inner fortitude and commitment to never subdue one’s moral disposition in the face of ostentatious and egregious instances of extreme cruelty and inhumanity. We shall never become desensitized to violence.
Thoreau’s embrace of civil disobedience invites a foundational ethical code of peaceful resistance yet invokes a courageous moral stand in the face of aggression and social injustice. The Dalai Lama calls upon us to understand that “an attitude of calmness and nonviolence is actually an indication of strength, as it shows the confidence that comes from having truth and justice on one’s side” (Dalai Lama 2012, 58). To strengthen and solidify this collective of global artists, we must endeavor to create our own code of ethics based upon the ethos of peace, nonviolence, and compassion for humanity, so we may uphold each other to a higher standard of moral consciousness amidst the rising tide of dehumanization, persecution, and the subversion of the human spirit.
What Are Ethics?
The Stoics regard ethics as the fundamental determination of an individual’s virtue; courage, moderation, wisdom, and justice embody the core principles of an enlightened being. Life is not a game to be played for selfish pursuit, but a journey to embark on to discover higher, universal truths. The Kantian philosophy of ethics and morality resides in a ‘categorical imperative’, “a universal ethical principle stating that one should always respect humanity in others, and that one should only act in accordance with rules that could hold true for everyone” (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy n.d). Kant adopts a cosmopolitanism theory supporting the premise that all rational individuals are citizens of a globalized moral community that seek and deserve equality, freedom, and independent personhood. World peace can be achieved when members of society and the international community alike follow the ethics of free determination based upon a universal moral law of nonviolence.
Philosophers note two essential theories of ethics. Consequentialist theory attests that the desired outcome benefits the greatest good for the majority, while deontological theories believe that an obligation to higher moral principles should drive our ethical decision-making. “Therefore, if the action that would ensure the greatest good violates a duty or moral principle, we should not undertake such an action” (Kirnan 2018, 16). A resolution of these conflicting theories naturally lies in circumstance, underscoring the need for a fundamental code of ethics for our artistic community, so we may guide each other with integrity, honesty, love, and a commitment to uphold our foundational principles.
How do We Address Ethical Challenges?
A code of ethics implementing a model of restorative justice provides a nonadversarial mechanism for accountability, reconciliation, repair, and healing within the collective should issues of ethical or moral concern arise. As we undertake this globalized artistic initiative, our empirical duty is to address ethical challenges with maturity, rationality, intelligence, compassion, and wisdom. Cosmopolitanism is founded on the moral ideals of peace, security, freedom, self-determination, and individual well-being, within the collective and the globalized community at large (Heater 2000). Understanding that we must uplift the perception of acceptable behavioral conduct above and beyond the status quo, we must commit as an artistic community to proactively resist violence in all forms, including bullying, bigotry, and denigration of an individual’s personhood and right to freedom of existence and safety. We must actively resist oppositional defiance with courage and bravery, understanding that darker forces in the world seek to destroy the very tenants of individual freedom. “We consider a definition of ethics that goes beyond prevention and reaction, to proactive moral behavior” (Kirnan 2018, 15). Thus, we may rely upon our code of ethics to strengthen and embolden our duty as artists to seek and create higher moral truths, reflecting the world both as it is and as it could be.
The Importance of Intellectualism
In our contemporary world, intellectualism is often viewed as elitist, a threat to the neocolonialist patriarchal status quo of domination through coercion, suppression, and sociologically violent means. Authoritarian forces in the world, fearing the spiritual liberalism of free thinking and critical thought, seek to control access to knowledge through totalitarian methods of book banning and censorship of Critical Race Theory, LGBTQ+ studies, feminism, and other progressive forms of higher consciousness intelligence that liberates humanity from the dictates of oppressive, antiquated forces. Cosmopolitan collectives must actively resist the nefarious actors in society that seek to subjugate, eliminate, and rewrite history in dystopian, Orwellian terms. “The mode of being the new intellectual can no longer consist in eloquence. . . but in active participation in practical life, as constructor, organizer, ‘permanent persuader’ and not just a simple orator” (Gramsci 2005, 52). A code of ethics for cosmopolitans embraces intellectualism as the highest philosophical and moral pursuit. One can only be a citizen of the world if one embarks on the academic pursuit to learn about the world with devoted and passionate effort.
A Code of Ethics for Artists
As artists and citizens of the global community, we must first holistically examine ourselves before coming together as a collective unit. We must identify our proclivity towards clinging to existing habits and thought processes formed in pre-established modes of interaction and seek to improve ourselves from the core of our being. We must also examine our unconscious biases and personal triggers, so we do not bring negative elements into the collective art space. A code of ethics creates a foundational conversation from which we can move forth together in transformation and evolution. Core values such as honesty, respect, trust, empathy, and communicative listening can provide the space and psychological safety where we can learn from each other and grow as artists and individuals. Sexism, racism, violence, and discrimination of any form within the collective must be addressed and healed from within the community based on a model of restorative justice. “The morality of the artist is before else, the morality of a person” (Berleant 1977, 197). A code of ethics allows us to work together holistically so we may adopt higher universal moral and ethical standards based on the virtue of nonviolence in word and deed. From this common understanding, we can focus our energy on the tireless work of climate justice, education, anti-racism, anti-bigotry, and the pursuit of equality for all individuals on this beautiful planet, our only home.
Conclusion
As a collective of intellectually inspired artists, we must commit to understanding and embracing our shared humanity with each other and with the global community. While there are those that seek to divide the human race with racist and virulent ideological constructs, we understand that humanity is one species, and we are stronger and more powerful when we come together to elevate the benevolent nature of the human spirit. The primary objective in establishing our code of ethics is to create a moral platform of uprightness, first and foremost to each other. Gandhi calls upon us to be the change we wish to see in the world. From this perspective, may we offer the world a model of unity, respect, intellectualism, and collective integration that endeavors to inspire and enlighten others, so we can commence the difficult path of healing ourselves, each other, our planet, and elevate ourselves as citizens of the world.
Created by Dr. Julieanne Klein
References
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