Future of Ethics : Ramesh Shrestha

Philosophy of ethics helps us to understand and conceptualise an idea which can be applied to benefit human society. But the degeneration of ethics in our society is becoming an issue of serious concern; it is no longer just a philosophical concept.

It is beyond philosophy

Application of ethical principles does not mean to create utopian countries with a society of saints. It simply means for people to understand the principles and values of ethics that are worth embracing so that we treat individuals with fairness. Same applies internationally while making deals between countries. Rest is up to the individuals and countries contingent on their potentials and resources.

We differentiate ourselves from the rest of the animal kingdom with our culture and tradition. Some primates do have certain value systems based on their kinship affiliation but human society excels in every possible dimension when it comes to society, culture and value system. All these principles are designed to govern our behaviour and actions when we conduct ourselves in family and in society, in a larger context - nationally and internationally. It is what we call ethics – having a good character. It sets our moral boundaries and guides us on what is allowed and not allowed when we exercise our freedom.

There are variations in the way we practice our culture and traditions depending on how our traditions have evolved in keeping with secular changes as we adjust to our modern society especially influenced by technology. Certain practices which were a taboo a century ago are now permissible. But there are certain value-based boundaries which we consider a Redline - an ethical boundary which we are barred from crossing, in all societies, across the board – in law & order, in businesses, in industries, in warfare, in media, in religions, in medical research and so on. It is designed to safeguard our moral behaviour for a safe world.

Are we deviating?

Human beings cultivate their manners and behaviours starting from childhood, learning from parents, teachers, religion and from the government through laws and legislations. These values are set for us to be good – to do the right thing, and refrain from being wicked to protect our society and to create a better world. But these days the rules and principles are set by those who exercise political powers, business conglomerates and socialites almost abandoning traditional values. It is putting people who practice traditional moral principles at a very disadvantaged position. In contemporary society there are no threats of punishment for acting immorally for those in authority. What has happened to our ethics, moral principles?

Because we are self-righteous

If we go back a little in history, we have seen numerous sufferings by the people when slavery and colonialism were rife. Slaves who defy the orders of the masters and slaves who try to escape were flogged and even killed. The colonial masters were able to empty the coffers and natural resources of the colonised countries and treat the locals no less than slaves. There were some locals who colluded with the agents of slave traders and the colonisers demonstrating the existence of weak morale in human beings. There were laws and legislations during those days too but were not applicable to the lies and deceits of those in power. Such practice exists even today.

Since the end of WWII and the publication of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, leaders everywhere take pride in talking about human rights, freedom and democracy. The end of colonialism and the establishment of the United Nations were seen as great moments for the entire world to be peaceful and live and be governed by rule of law – an ethical environment. But there is a certain animal instinct in us such as denial, greed, revenge and urge to dominate, that is taking over our global ethical values and principles. We may have deviated a bit from the era of slavery and colonialism but we still largely practice passively aggressive behaviours and continue to do what we want irrespective of ethics and morality, harming each other & society and harming nature.

Life above moral values

In modern society, individuals and countries are engrossed with the idea of supremacy and becoming rich at any cost. In this process human beings have devalued everything – human relations as well as nature. The boundaries between executive, legislative and judiciary branches of governance are being blurred with the influence of businesses and industries. National policies are grossly influenced by private sectors in the name of public-private partnership, driven by the interest of shareholders with profit at the center stage, not the interest of the general public or even the country.

Policy making procedures are expected to be fair and ethically sound in the interest of the people but in reality, ethical dimensions of policy making procedures are rarely scrutinised. When the national policy and services are driven by profit and individualism the idea of social service and ethics are parked in the background. It creates opportunities for exploitation and discrimination. Following are some examples of human beings’ behaviours devoid of ethics, bordering criminality.

The global cry for solutions for controlling greenhouse gas emission has been muted for the past five decades and continue to be sidelined for reasons of profit even today. Global warming claimed the lives of 8.7 million people in 2021 and it is expected to kill 83 million people by the end of this century, despite known solutions with very little actions.

There are well known internationally recognised, ethics-based ICRC guidelines in treating prisoners of war, yet, we see total disregards for the treatment of prisoners of war including torture, unlawful detention and trial of prisoners in kangaroo courts with manufactured evidence. Further, the works of the International Criminal Court have set a miserable example by being selective. Do we have any moral ground to criticize dictators and despotic leaders? Self-declared leaders have lost legitimacy. They are ruling by exercising fear. We live in an illusion of democracy. Democracy is now a hologram – it is everywhere and it is nowhere.

According to UNHCR some 27 million people are refugees seeking asylum in another country, of whom 41% are children. They are fleeing largely because of wars and conflicts and due to political and economic instability, which are all caused by external interference and exploitation. This figure excludes the internally displaced population. Whom to talk about ethics?

Future of ethics

Traditionally children are taught moral principles and social virtues to be good and rational so that a child can achieve its highest potentials in life and be a good citizen. But in recent decades the social education and socialisation of children appear to be greatly influenced by promotion of individualism with no limits and consumption-based economy with no obligation to society and nature, abandoning traditional value systems that survived for millennia. The dominant culture but not necessarily superior, is erasing traditional values, fairness, respect and honour. Nature has been fully capitalised; anything that can be traded is being traded. A handful of mainstream media including (anti)social media and entertainment industry are redefining what is to be a human being based on the monetary value of life and liberty.

What will be the nature of human society in the future populated by children who grow up to become adults with these value systems?

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Contact Ramesh at  ramesh.chauni@gmail.com