Profession Shapes Ethics: The Slavery of the Necktie
Taleb asks whether people choose work that reflects their ethics or gradually adopt beliefs that justify their work. His necktie metaphor questions how much autonomy a well-paid professional actually has.
THE IDEA
At no time in the history of mankind has the following situation been seen in such an acute form. Say Mr. John Smith Jr., JD, is employed as lobbyist for the tobacco industry in Washington, D.C., which, as we all know, is engaged in the business of killing people for profit (we saw with the powers of subtraction that if we stopped such industries from existing by, say, banning cigarettes, then everything else done by medicine becomes a footnote). Ask any of his relatives (or friends) why they can tolerate it and don’t just ostracize him or harass him to tears, avoid him at the next family funeral. The answer is likely to be “everyone needs to make a living”—as they are hedging the possibility of their falling into the same situation some day.
We need to test the direction of the arrow:
Ethics (and Beliefs) → Profession
or
Profession → Ethics (and Beliefs)
Prior to Fat Tony’s debate with Socrates, Nero was curious about the first minute of encounter, since there is a gap of about twenty-five centuries. It is not a simple matter to identify the elements of our physical environment that would surprise Socrates the most. Questioned on the point by Fat Tony, who had some grudging respect for Nero’s knowledge of history, Nero’s speculative reply was “It would most certainly be the absence of slaves.”
“These people never did small domestic things themselves. So imagine Socrates’ sorry figure of a bulging belly, spindly legs, wondering Opou oi douloi?”
“But, Neeroh Toolip, there are still slaves around,” Fat Tony blurted out. “They often distinguish themselves by wearing this intricate device called a necktie.”
Nero: “Signore Ingeniere Tony, some of these tie-wearers are very rich, even richer than you.”
Tony: “Nero, you sucker. Don’t be fooled by money. These are just numbers. Being self-owned is a state of mind.”
When to use it
When making career decisions, consider whether your profession aligns with your core values or will gradually reshape them.
In ethical dilemmas at work, recognize the influence of your professional role on your judgment.
When evaluating others' choices in controversial industries, avoid the trap of rationalization by examining the direction of causality between ethics and profession.
For entrepreneurs and leaders, assess whether the organizational culture creates 'slaves' or fosters genuine autonomy and self-ownership.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
The Tobacco Lobbyist's Justification
John Smith Jr., a tobacco lobbyist, is tolerated by his family and friends despite his role in an industry that kills people for profit. They justify it by saying 'everyone needs to make a living,' implying that they might also compromise their ethics if placed in the same situation.
The Necktie as a Symbol of Servitude
Fat Tony argues that many modern professionals, even wealthy ones, are effectively slaves because they are not self-owned. They wear neckties—a symbol of their servitude—and are trapped in roles that shape their ethics and beliefs.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Think about your own profession: does it shape your ethics or did you choose it because of your ethics? Provide a concrete example.
Why do people often use the phrase 'everyone needs to make a living' to justify working in harmful industries? What bias does this reveal?
What does it mean to be 'self-owned' in the context of your career? Are there ways you might be unconsciously sacrificing autonomy for financial security?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Antifragile (Nassim Nicholas Taleb)