I  have come across something called the "MBA Oath". I kid you not! You can even start your own chapter using the MBA Oath Chapter Kit. You can read about this phenomenon at www.mbaoath.com.

This is some of what these people have to say:

"The good news is that you have the opportunity to be at the forefront of something truly significant, and possibly historic. This is a moment in history, like none in our lifetime."

More histrionic than historic...?

"Our long-term goal is to transform the field of management into a true profession, one in which MBAs are respected for their integrity, professionalism, and leadership. We hope to see hundreds of thousands of MBAs take the MBA oath, or something like it, as a step towards realizing this vision."

A true profession requires more of its members than the following, don't you think?

"Personal Requirements (for membership)"

1. "Be a member, in good standing, of the 2010 or 2009 class at your business school."

2. "Write 300 word essay on why you think the oath is important and why you think you    would be a good leader (drawing on your personal experience)."

3. "Ability to commit at least 5 hours a week to working on the oath."

4. "Interview with the MBA Oath national committee"

The time has come for Philkosopher Kings.

General knowledge about the numerous aspects of (corporate) business cannot compete with a study of philosophy (ethics) and an understanding of 2 500 years of Western Civilisation and Culture.

Want to know about leadership? - Read philosophy. Want to know about making tough decisions? Read philosophy. Want to know about knowledge? Read philosophy. Want to know about ethics? Read philosophy. In fact, everything started out with philosophy. Inductive reasoning? Deductive reasoning? Fallacious arguments? Read philosophy. Modes of existence? The good life? Goals? Ambitions? Read philosophy. How to live? Read philosophy.

"It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath." (Aeschylus)

"Virtues are dangerous as vices insofar as they are allowed to rule over one as authorities and not as qualities one develops oneself." (Friedrich Nietzsche)

"The power of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special afforts, but by his ordinary doing". (Blaise Pascal)

"Virtue is a state of war, and to win we have always tp combat with ourselves" (Jean-Jaques Rousseau)

"Virtue does not come from wealth, but. . . wealth, and every other good thing which men have. . . comes from virtue." (Socrates)

And what's more, philosophy is the best bullshit detector you can ever hope to find!

Finally, you cannot crook the books in philosophy. There is no place to hide.

Send me a message: qknox@vodamail.co.za.