In the video “Collateral Murder,” released by Chelsea Manning in 2010, the chilling
footage captured from an Apache helicopter provides a disturbing glimpse into the realities of
modern warfare. Set in Baghdad, Iraq, the video portrays a U.S. military airstrike that resulted in
the deaths of several individuals, including two Reuters journalists. Manning, a former
intelligence analyst in the United States Army, decided to leak this footage along with a trove of
classified documents to WikiLeaks. Manning’s motivation for releasing the material was rooted
in her belief that the public deserved to know the truth about the actions of their military forces.
She argued that the footage exposed potential war crimes committed by the U.S. military and
highlighted the indiscriminate nature of armed conflict. Manning’s actions ignited a fierce debate
about the ethics of military conduct and the role of whistleblowers in holding institutions
accountable. This case raises complex moral questions regarding the duty of soldiers to uphold
loyalty to their country versus their obligation to expose wrongdoing. It challenges traditional
notions of patriotism and asks us to consider where our allegiance should lie when confronted
with evidence of injustice. In this Case Analysis, I will argue that virtue ethics shows that
Manning did not act out of loyalty to the United States and that her actions were a moral
whistleblowing case.
In his article “Whistle Blowing and Rational Loyalty,” Vandekerckhove delves into
rational loyalty and its correlation with whistleblowing. The term rational loyalty denotes loyalty
that is grounded in moral principles rather than self-interest. Vandekerckhove posits that rational
loyalty should be the fundamental guiding principle of behavior within organizations, as it plays
a crucial role in maintaining the organization’s integrity. By prioritizing ethical values above
individual gains, employees can remain steadfast in their commitment to the organization’s
mission and values. Furthermore, rational loyalty can foster a culture of trust and accountability, enhancing an organization’s reputation and helping it retain top talent. Overall,
Vandekerckhove’s article underscores the importance of rational loyalty as a critical driver of
ethical behavior in organizational settings.
In a company producing harmful products, the role of employees becomes crucial. The
employees may be aware of the company’s actions but hesitate to speak up against the company.
This is where the concept of rational loyalty comes into play. Rational loyalty means that the
employees should act in the company’s best interest, but not at the cost of violating ethical
principles. If the employees are rationally loyal to the company, they should report the
wrongdoing to relevant authorities, even if it means going against the company’s interest. This is
because the employees are morally obligated to safeguard the consumers from using harmful
products. The employees are responsible for society; if they fail to speak up, they will be
complicit in the company’s unethical practices. By reporting the company’s wrongdoing, the
employees can ensure that the company is held accountable for its actions. In doing so, they are
fulfilling their moral obligation and contributing to society’s greater good.
When evaluating ethical actions in a given situation, virtue ethics provides a framework
emphasizing the significance of behaving by moral principles rather than self-interest.
Employees have a moral responsibility to protect consumers and other stakeholders in the
context of a company’s wrongdoing. This could involve blowing the whistle on unethical or
illegal practices within the organization. By acting by virtue ethics, employees prioritize their
moral and ethical obligations over any potential harm to their personal or professional interests.
This approach requires a commitment to ethical behavior, which can help to maintain trust and
credibility with stakeholders. Employees can uphold their ethical responsibilities by reporting
wrongdoing and contributing to the greater good. In today’s corporate world, employees must act ethically and report any legal or ethical
standards violations by their company. This is not always an easy task; however, it is the right
thing to do, demonstrating a commitment to ethical behavior and responsible corporate
citizenship. The concept of rational loyalty is crucial in the context of whistleblowing. This
concept emphasizes the importance of moral principles and integrity in organizations and
encourages employees to act in the company’s and its stakeholders’ best interest. In practice,
rational loyalty suggests that employees should be loyal to the company, but only to the extent
that it aligns with their moral and ethical principles. For instance, if a company produces harmful
products or engages in unethical practices, employees are responsible for blowing the whistle
and reporting the wrongdoing to the relevant authorities. In doing so, they protect consumers,
uphold the law, and promote the greater good.
Employees must cultivate courage, honesty, and integrity to make rational loyalty work
in practice. Virtue ethics teaches us that these virtues are essential for moral reasoning, decision-
making, and action. By cultivating these virtues, employees can develop a sense of responsibility
and accountability for their actions and become better corporate citizens. Organizations must act
ethically and report any breach of legal or ethical standards. Doing so not only aligns with moral
principles but also contributes to the long-term prosperity and endurance of the organization. By
embracing the concept of rational loyalty and cultivating virtues such as courage, honesty, and
integrity, employees can become ethical leaders and contribute to a better and more just society.
In their article “Care and Loyalty in the Workplace,” Julinna Oxley and D.E. Wittkower
delve into the importance of care and loyalty in a work setting. The authors introduce a new
concept called “caring labor,” which refers to work involving emotional labor, primarily caring
for others. They discuss how caring labor is often underappreciated in the workplace and frequently goes unrewarded. The article sheds light on the fact that caring labor is a vital aspect
of many professions, such as nursing, teaching, and social work, and how it plays a crucial role
in ensuring the well-being of both employees and clients. The authors also examine how the lack
of recognition and compensation for caring labor can lead to burnout, high turnover rates, and
other negative consequences. Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the importance
of care and loyalty in the workplace and highlights the need for greater recognition and
appreciation of caring labor in various professions.
Consider a scenario where a nurse consistently goes above and beyond her duty to
provide the best possible patient care. Despite her hard work, her employer fails to recognize her
efforts and does not compensate her for the extra time and effort she puts in. In this situation, the
nurse is performing what is called caring labor. This labor, which is crucial to the well-being of
her patients, involves providing emotional support, physical care, and assistance with various
daily activities. However, her employer does not seem to value this labor, which can ultimately
lead to burnout and dissatisfaction among the nursing staff. This can have adverse effects on the
overall quality of care provided to patients, as well as on the morale of the nursing staff. It is,
therefore, important for employers to recognize and appreciate the efforts of their employees,
especially those who are providing caring labor, to maintain a healthy and productive work
environment.
Upon analyzing the actions taken in this case through the lens of virtue ethics, it is
apparent that the employer is not exhibiting ethical behavior. Virtue ethics is a philosophical
approach that emphasizes cultivating virtuous character traits, such as compassion and fairness,
to guide ethical decision-making. In this specific scenario, the employer fails to demonstrate
compassion towards the nurse performing essential duties that benefit the patients. The nurse goes above and beyond the call of duty, yet the employer does not acknowledge or appreciate her
efforts. Additionally, the employer is not fair in treating the nurse, as they are not compensating
her for the additional work she is undertaking. This lack of fairness is further compounded by the
fact that the nurse’s extra efforts benefit the patients, which is the primary objective of the
healthcare facility. Therefore, it is clear that the employer’s actions do not align with the values
and principles of virtue ethics.
Upon thorough assessment and analysis of the situation, it has become evident that the
employer in question should have recognized and appreciated the significant contributions made
by the nurse’s diligent and compassionate labor. This recognition can be appropriately
demonstrated through the provision of fair compensation and acknowledgment of her invaluable
contributions to the workplace. By valuing and prioritizing the crucial role of caring labor, the
employer can effectively create a more positive and supportive work environment, which is
beneficial for the employees and the patients receiving care. Such a supportive work
environment can foster a culture of respect, appreciation, and collaboration, improving patient
outcomes and employee satisfaction.
Drawing on Vandekerckhove’s concept of rational loyalty, Manning’s whistleblowing can
be seen as an expression of loyalty to the higher principles of transparency and justice rather than
blind allegiance to the military institution. By prioritizing the disclosure of potential wrongdoing
over loyalty to the military establishment, Manning demonstrates a form of rational loyalty
grounded in ethical principles. Furthermore, Oxley and Wittkower’s exploration of care and
loyalty in the workplace sheds light on Manning’s actions from a perspective of moral care.
Manning’s decision to blow the whistle can be interpreted as an act of care towards the victims of
war and the broader society affected by military actions. By exposing potential war crimes, Manning acted in the interest of those impacted by the consequences of armed conflict,
demonstrating a sense of moral responsibility and care for others.
In conclusion, in the case of Chelsea Manning’s release of the “Collateral Murder” video
and classified documents to WikiLeaks, the ethical evaluation through virtue ethics reveals a
nuanced understanding of Manning’s actions. Manning’s decision to disclose the video and
documents was rooted in her belief that the public deserved to know the truth about the actions
of their military forces, highlighting potential war crimes and the indiscriminate nature of armed
conflict. Manning’s motivation aligns more closely with moral principles than unquestioning
loyalty to the United States. While loyalty to one’s country is typically considered virtuous,
Manning’s actions suggest a higher loyalty to universal moral values such as transparency,
accountability, and harm prevention.