The Meaning of Integrity in Postmodernism

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the concept of integrity, how it should be defined, the importance of the concept throughout history, and whether or not the concept of integrity is still relevant in a postmodern world. Integrity, derived from the Latin word “integer,” which reflects wholeness and moral completeness, is traditionally defined as following moral and ethical principles and being consistent and honest. In the paper, we explore how Job, Ruth, and Daniel are just three examples of individuals who stood in their integrity despite losing jobs, family members, homes, and even their own lives. The influence of postmodern relativism on truth and morality is then analyzed, and it is shown how this contemporary philosophical trend has shaped a notably situational definition of integrity. It ends by asserting the timeless relevance of integrity in today’s world despite the obstacles of mediated notions of morality and identity politics that accompany contemporary life.