Concept in Definition ABC

The adjective honest corresponds to the noun probity, which is equivalent to honorability. It is said that someone is honest when he has a decent and upright demeanor and, therefore, equates to honest. Regarding the use of the term, it must be said that it is a cultism that is not part of the language everyday life, but is used in legal terminology or in official documents related to the function public.

Probitas in Ancient Rome

The ancient Romans attached importance to certain moral values, because through them the very existence and life in society acquired a more human and dignified dimension. Among the values ​​they most appreciated is probity, but there are also others, such as dignitas or dignity, the auctoritas or authoritymoral or the veritas or truth.

For the Romans the probitas was equivalent to the integritas, that is to say, to the integrity. Thus, a person with integrity is someone whose conduct is moral and, at the same time, is within the framework of the legality.

Understanding someone's profile

Someone upright is one who has honesty. In this way, we could provide some characteristics related to this virtue. It is an individual who acts with rectitude, that is, who fulfills his obligations. Therefore, he is a person with a sense of duty. The compliance of personal obligations obeys a moral sense of existence, which means behaving appropriately on a personal level, as a citizen and as a worker. Thus, it could not be said that someone is honest if in his family life he is upright and honest but is not honest in relation to his professional activity.

The upright is an honest person and, therefore, the corrupt, the hypocrite, the manipulator or the liar are individuals who are not honest.

A virtue that is valued for the exercise of certain functions

Although probity is a moral virtue that must permeate any area of ​​existence, in some professions it is especially valued. Thus, a judge should not only simply limit himself to applying the law rather, it is desirable that he be honest in a broad sense of the term.

The same happens with officials, teachers, priests or political leaders. Those who perform these types of functions should carry them out with a high sense of morality and justice. Otherwise, we would be facing an obvious contradiction.

Photos: Fotolia - inueng / Bank-Bank