Before I can get into the case and analyze it, it is important to know what Confucianism is. Confucianism dates back to ancient China and is a belief system that is largely based on personal ethics and morality. It also appreciates justice and loyalty Confucian teachings were very conservative and were a way to keep people in their respective roles in the social order. I like to see it as a way to keep people loyal to one another and their government while practicing being a good person. The case of whistle-blowing shown in the “Collateral Murder?” video is a very hard one to analyze due to the strange nature of war. I believe in these next few paragraphs we can truly understand what went down. In this Case Analysis I will argue that Confucianism shows us that Manning did act out of loyalty to the United States and that her actions were a moral case of whistleblowing.
When going over the readings of “Whistleblowing and Rational Loyalty,” we can see that the concept of rational loyalty stands out. Vandekerckhove seems to base the entire thing on said concept. Rational loyalty reframes traditional loyalty by making its main focus an organization’s explicit mission, goals, value statements, and/or code of conduct. It makes one focus on these few principles instead of only having blind loyalty to a hierarchy. What does this have to do with the case that is being analyzed? Well, dedicating oneself to something such as rational loyalty seems to make someone such as Manning focus more on the mission and ethical standards instead of the interest in loyalty to a superior. When exposing the video proof of the “Collateral Murders,” they showed loyalty to the greater good of humans as a whole even though they challenged the norms set by the government. Loyalty is a huge part of Confucianism and there are many aspects of rational loyalty that can correlate to this type of ethics/religion.
With Vanderkerck having such a strong opinion on rational loyalty I believe he would agree with some of the aspects of Confucianism. Some of the relevant aspects of Confucianism include Ren, Zhong, Shu, and Li. These are the main ones that I will focus on for this analysis. These are some of the Chinese words that are used to describe some of the aspects of Confucianism with respect to rational loyalty. Ren is translated to humaneness. Zhong is very often translated as loyalty, which is a common theme in this analysis, and it highlights commitment and devotion and gives importance to the commitment between them and their superiors. Shu is normally translated to deference. Shu is the representative of reciprocal virtues and empathy. It is important because it guides how we treat others, with their perspective in mind. Finally, Li is most commonly translated to ritual propriety. This combines loyalty with tradition. It also makes treating others with respect reflects loyalty to specific people.
How do these words and their meanings correlate with Manning’s case? Ren, or humaneness is a big one. Manning wanted to prevent harm and uphold human dignity by revealing war crimes. These actions that Manning committed were an example of ren. Manning’s disclosure challenged what was deemed normal, or the status quo, but it was for a higher moral order. She showed loyalty to truth and justice instead of just blind obedience. This is an example of li. Another example of Manning’s whistleblowing, and how it aligns with Confucian values, is how she prioritized the well-being of civilians over institutional loyalty, showing more care towards humanity. These three examples of what Manning did show a great sign of Confucian values. I believe that Confucianism would view her whistleblowing as morally justifiable because it aligns with the bigger goal of cosmic harmony and ethical conduct. Based on this, Mannings’s actions were ethically sound. She acted with rational loyalty and I believe that Confucianism would commend her for her actions, her courage, and her commitment to justice.
For this next part of the analysis, we must get into the concepts of care and loyalty in the workplace. Julianna Ocley and D.E. Wittoker have made an incredible case for it and made many great points. The points they make will help us dive deeper into the Manning case and evaluate the actions through the lens of a Confucianist. Behind personal ethics, there is another important form, business ethics. In this context, care goes beyond contractual obligations. It emphasizes personal relationships, emotional bonds, and empathy. Care theorists argue that relationships in the workplace involve elements of friendship and should be guided by contextual reasoning. Then we must discuss loyalty. Loyalty extends beyond mere adherence to contractual terms. It involves going above and beyond what is required, driven by emotional bonds and concern for others. Loyalty can be seen as an expression of partiality subordinate to general moral requirements.
When talking about these important points it helps to put them into examples because it helps understand those concepts. Imagine a scenario where an employee faces personal challenges, such as alcoholism. A loyal friend would support them, even if it meant taking them to a rehabilitation center against their wishes. Similarly, loyalty in the workplace can manifest as supporting colleagues during difficult times. After that we must Apply the concept of care, we recognize that loyalty is a form of care. When employers and employees maintain personal relationships, replicating care, empathy, and concern becomes virtuous. Loyalty, in this context, aligns with the ethics of care.
How do the examples and the central concepts of care and loyalty align with Confucianism and the Manning case? Care extends beyond contractual obligations and emphasizes personal relationships, empathy, and contextual reasoning. The video titled, “Collateral Murder,” showed a helicopter attack in Baghdad, Iraq. The crew fired on a group of people, including two Reuters journalists, resulting in civilian casualties. From a care perspective, the crew’s actions lacked empathy and concern for human life. Their laughter after the attack demonstrated a callous disregard for the victims. Loyalty goes beyond contractual requirements and involves emotional bonds. It often requires going above and beyond for others. The crew’s loyalty was primarily directed toward their mission and their safety. They followed orders and engaged in combat. However, their loyalty did not extend to the civilians caught in the crossfire. The lack of concern for innocent lives contradicted the idea of loyalty to humanity.
As stated in the rational loyalty part of this analysis, Confucianism values loyalty to superiors and colleagues. If the struggling employee is a colleague, showing loyalty by supporting their well-being aligns with Confucian principles. This is how it would be explained in a business scenario. Care is another core value of Confucianism and a central concept of Julianna Ocley and D.E. Wittoker’s book. With this being said Confucianism emphasizes care for others. Taking the struggling colleague to rehab demonstrates care and concern. Based on this assessment, the right thing to have done would have been to prioritize care for civilians. The crew could have questioned the mission’s morality and advocated for minimizing harm to innocent lives.
In conclusion, the “Collateral Murder” case underscores the delicate balance between loyalty and care in high-stakes situations. While loyalty to authority and mission is essential, it should not override our duty to humanity. The crew’s actions, lacking empathy and care for civilian lives, violated ethical principles. Confucianism would advocate for a more harmonious approach—one that considers the well-being of all parties involved. Prioritizing care, even in conflict, would have been the virtuous path. Ultimately, true loyalty encompasses compassion and responsibility beyond mere orders. Manning’s whistleblowing can be seen as rational loyalty. She prioritized the organization’s mission of transparency and truth over personal interests or blind obedience to hierarchy. Her actions were consistent with the greater good, revealing war crimes and promoting accountability. Manning’s whistleblowing was ethically justifiable. Confucianism would commend her courage and commitment to justice, emphasizing the harmony of cosmic order In the end, I believe that Manning made the right choice.