Peter Eigen: How to expose the corrupt

Some of the world’s most baffling social problems, says Peter Eigen, can be traced to systematic, pervasive government corruption, hand-in-glove with global companies. At TEDxBerlin, Eigen describes the thrilling counter-attack led by his organization Transparency International.

From the website of Transparency International comes this elegant definition: What is corruption? Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone whose life, livelihood or happiness depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority.

Peter Eigen knows this. He worked in economic development for 25 years, mainly as a World Bank manager of programs in Africa and Latin America. Among his assignments, he served as director of the regional mission for Eastern Africa from 1988 to 1991. Stunned by the depth and pervasiveness — and sheer destructiveness — of the corruption he encountered, he formed the group Transparency International to take on some of the main players in deals with corrupt officials: multinational corporations.

Eigen believes that the best way to root out corruption is to make it known. Thus, Transparency International works to raises awareness of corruption, and takes practical action to address it, including public hearings.

Sam Harris: Science can answer moral questions

Questions of good and evil, right and wrong are commonly thought unanswerable by science. But Sam Harris argues that science can — and should — be an authority on moral issues, shaping human values and setting out what constitutes a good life.

Adored by secularists, feared by the pious, Sam Harris’ best-selling books argue that religion is ruinous and, worse, stupid — and that questioning religious faith might just save civilization

Update on Monday, March 29, 2010 at 22:01 by mavenandmeddler

Apparently, Harris touched some raw nerves. The comments came pouring in and he answers them.

Jay Walker's library of human imagination

Jay Walker, curator of the Library of Human Imagination, conducts a surprising show-and-tell session highlighting a few of the intriguing artifacts that backdropped the 2008 TED stage.

The real difference between conservatives and liberals: 5 moral values

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt talks about the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we’re left, right or center. In this eye-opening- and highly entertaining and funny-  talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most.

He points out that nature loves both liberal and conservative, yin and yang if you will. Both are necessary to the functioning and progress of a nation as well as a society. To want a society of exclusively one or the other would be a non-functioning mess.

He gives us a great reason to step out of the moral matrix for a moment to gain our bearings, and out of our self-righeousness ( “I’m right and you’re wrong!” ) and work cooperatively toward a better future.

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Haidt studies morality and emotion in the context of culture. He asks: Why did humans evolve to have morals — and why did we all evolve to have such different morals, to the point that our moral differences may make us deadly enemies? It’s a question with deep repercussions in war and peace — and in modern politics, where reasoned discourse has been replaced by partisan anger and cries of “You just don’t get it!”