Greek Ideal of "Know Thyself" - Could this have prevented Rajat Gupta et al. from Raj Rajaratnam's Machiavellian Ways?

Is the real lesson for the tragic fall of prominent players such as Rajat Gupta one that goes back to ancient Greece: Know thyself? 

The current issue of THE ECONOMIST asks "Who's next?" in regard to catching up with and convicting insider traders.  The answer seems to be that who's next are the professionals who never took the time to find out who they are, embrace that including the shadow side, and then guard against being manipulated by Machiavellian thugs such as Raj  Rajaratnam.

If the dictum about self knowledge has been around since ancient times, then how come so few have a handle on who they are?  The answer is that it's difficult for human beings to admit to how far they are from being a paragon of perfection.  For that very reason, Tara Brach, Ph.D., had to write and publish the breakthrough book "Radical Acceptance."  It even contains exercises on how to forgive yourself and every one else for being human.

Perhaps this book should be distributed to new members of boards of directors, employees of hedge funds, and inmates for federal prisons.  The latter will have lots of time to reflect on the possible causes of what got them there.

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