Moral values and their practice
N.Anandam
Moral code is the body of rules or
principles concerned with good and evil.
The concepts such as justice, honesty, fairness, conscientiousness, incorruptibility, disinterestedness, righteousness, prudence, freedom, mercy etc are purely moral concepts. These concepts possess a great driving force. If these are connected with religious and social convictions, they are capable of deeply influencing the human mind and change the character of people.
Moral values are not one and the same in all societies. They differ from society to society. But, some are universal in nature. For instance, generosity and mutual aid are considered as good moral values in all societies. Likewise, homicide, theft and incest are considered as immoral activities in all societies. However, some moral values are different in different societies. Different values exist in respect of property, truth and the general well-being of a neighbour. These differences in moral values are bound to exist in human society due to cultural differences
In all societies, moral values are initially instilled in the minds of children by parental authority and family discipline. They are further strengthened by social environment, education and training. All human institutions and conventions are largely and mainly the means through which moral convictions of mankind are carried out in practice.
Moral values have been evolved and revered from the dawn of human civilization since the practice of moral values bring about immense benefits to all the members of the society. It brings about order in the society. It is found that peace and prosperity develop wherever good moral values are evolved and practiced. Members of such virtuous scientists enjoy freedom, security and happiness. In sum, observance of moral values enhance the quality of life of all the members of the society. It promotes happiness in every front.
For instance, if moral values such as tolerance, understanding and sympathy are practiced by family members, loving relationship develops within the family. As a result, all the members of a nuclear family (i.e. husband, wife, children and dependent elders) feel happy and secure. If either husband or wife acts selfishly and disobeys moral values, all the members feel unhappy. If anyone behaves in a dishonest and unethical manner, the whole family suffers. If the violation is frequent, it leads to the disintegration of the family. Thus, adherence to moral values by family members is the basis to happiness within the family unit.
If moral values are upheld by people in interhuman relationship, all the members of the community will be happy. If the principle of equality is practiced in political, social and economic activities, social harmony and unity will be strengthened in that society. Feeling of fraternity will grow and the involvement of people in common cause will increase.
If the moral values are upheld by the people in political, social and economic organizations and activities at the national level, the nation will get a better government. If lofty values are practiced by nations in their international relationship, there will be better cooperation among nations. Mutual suspicion and hatred will melt away. This would entail a cut down in defence expenditure and increased allocation of funds for productive and development activities.
The degree of sincere observance of moral values varies from individual to individual and from society to society depending upon enlightenment. According to the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant (1724-1803) justice means extending equal rights to fellow beings. Denial of equal rights and opportunities is an immoral activity. He adds further that practicing slavery, exploitation and showing disrespect for another’s dignity and personality and making of individual a mere tool of the state are immoral activities.
Three areas
Human beings are said to be first familial by nature, secondly social and thirdly political. So, let us make a brief survey as how justice is being observed in the three areas. On the family front, justice is upheld at an appreciable level. In a majority of families, husband and wife interact in a just manner with each other. But, in a small percentage of families, either husband or wife does not act in a just manner. They do not give due respect to the rights of others. Either husband or wife remains selfish and egoistic. They encroach on the rights of others. They are not keen to give regard to other people’s dignity and personality. This encroachment on others’ rights spoils the harmony within the family until it leads to the disintegration of the family.
At the national level, upholding justice means extending equal rights and opportunities to fellow people without showing any discrimination. This moral code is being broken deliberately by many societies. For instance, in the Indian society the upper castes do not treat the lower castes equally. They cunningly oppress the lower castes in every walk of life. In many parts of the world, the concept of ‘equality’ is not observed sincerely. In the African continent, the while people do not treat the native people equally. In European nations also, the same situation prevails. They do not extend equal rights and opportunities to the immigrants from other countries. For instance, in the 1950s and the 1960s, millions of Turks, Kurds and Iraquies went to work in Germany and they are called as guest workers. They were not treated equally. Similarly, many Algerians and Morocoans went to France to work there. They were not treated equally on par with their citizens. The situation is the worst in the USA. About twelve million new immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America entered USA during the last thirty years and are living in USA doing different jobs. Of them, a million are Mexicans. All of them are called as ‘undocumented’. Even though their presence is vital for the functioning of many industries in the USA, they are not given citizenship. In this manner, justice is not done to people in many countries.
As for ‘honesty’, it refers to the quality of being sincere and loyal to ethical values. It stands for sincere commitment to what is just and right. Honesty is the basic requirement in every walk of life. Honest people are those who are capable of standing firm upon their feet in the world of daily work, temptation and trial, and are able to bear the wear and tear of actual life.
On the political front, honesty means striving for public welfare and good governance of the state. In many nations, this honesty does not prevail at an appreciable level. Instead of striving for public welfare and for the formation of a welfare state, selfishness dominates the minds of most of the politicians. As a result, many nations have inept and corrupt governments. Public money is squandered to appease selfish ends. The governments function for wrong objectives. The same selfish outlook exists in international politics. Each nation tries to exploit other nations politically and economically. Many national governments function as gangsters, pirates and swindlers.
Causes for ignoring moral values
What are the causes that make men and women discard moral values? On probing, we find that there are many causes for men and women to become unjust and dishonest. Ignorance of the importance of practicing moral values is the first cause. Different passions and prejudices in the name of race, caste, creed and nationality form the second cause. The reason is that these passions blindly create the feeling of superiority over others. The sense of superiority over others prevents people from realising what is right and just. The notion of superiority and inferiority for one reason or the other maims the moral consciousness of people.
Hedonistic values form the third cause. Egoistic hedonism spreads an irrational idea on interhuman relationship. It spreads the notion that we are under no obligation to further the happiness of anybody else except as a means to our own. This misinterpretation of human relationship makes people self-centered and indulge in sensual pleasures completely. This wrong notion of life misguides people to disregard moral values.
Ambition to accumulate too much wealth is the fourth cause. The reason is that it glorifies those who attain success on the financial front. This promotes a wrong notion that accumulation of wealth is the prime objective of life. This idea fueled by the capitalistic economic system makes people self-centred, greedy and acquisitive. This false glorification of wealth accumulation makes people selfish and ignore moral values.
Human environment is the fifth cause. Men and women see for themselves as to how immoral and corrupt people live in luxury and comfort. They see around them evil succeed. They see people who indulge in corruption, profiteering, lying, deception, cruelty, power politics and violence live comfortably. Their own observation of the immoral world undermines their determination to lead a virtuous life.
Thus, many factors adversely influence the development of moral consciousness in the minds of people. They vary from society to society. In Europe, Africa, North America and Australia, the feeling of racial superiority and craze for power and wealth makes people unjust and cruel. In India, caste makes people so. In many parts of the world, false religious and social values hamper the development of moral values.
How can we improve the moral standard in human society? This is the problem that every generation faces. According to philosophers, enlightening the minds of people is the only way to achieve it. The reason is that ‘mind’ is the centre of everything. Mind precedes things, dominates them and creates things.
Mind needs to be fed with knowledge dispelling ignorance. In addition, it is to be controlled and trained to make it enlightened. If the mind is not controlled and trained, it is prone to succumb to temptations and allurements. It will be tempted to believe the illusory world as real and vice versa. It will neglect intellectual pursuits as unnecessary and worthless. It will lose the inquisitiveness and inclination to find truth, beauty and goodness. Consequently, mind will become oscillating, aimless and confused.
Mind needs to be cultivated to think logically and rationally. Analytical and rational thinking will make the mind realize the true meaning of life. It will instil the wisdom to realise right goal and the right means to be followed. It will inspire the mind to take the right efforts and actions.
It may be said that religions play a vital role in improving the moral standard of people. It is true that the concept that all seeing God will reward those who do good deeds and punish those who do evil deeds is helpful to improve the moral standard of the people. But this does not inspire in this age of science and scepticism. Religions act as a moral stimulant as long as they stress the idea of equality and brotherhood among the people. If they fail to translate those ideals in their deeds, they cease to inspire the people. Likewise, mere preaching altruistic morality is not likely to give good results since it will appeal only to those who already have altruistic desires. Therefore, activating the ‘spirit of inquiry’ is the right means to enlighten human mind.
The potential of thought is immense. If the mind is well exposed to the various problems of the world and motivated to think independently and impartially, it will find a reasonable and sensible solutions. If necessary, it will discard the anarchronistic values and evolve new values suiting the present civilization’s complex conditions.
In the present nuclear age, every nation feels unsafe. So, every nation is under fear psychosis. Consequently, all nations spend huge amount for stockpiling modern weapons in their arsenal. In the present time, another radical change has taken place. World economy has changed in such a way that movement of goods, machineries, capital and people from one nation to the other has become an absolute necessity. The present situation is such that every nation needs other nation’s assistance and cooperation for its own well-being. Likewise, living with the people of different races and cultures has become a necessity. So, evolving new moral values acceptable universally irrespective of race, caste, creed and nationality is the right remedy. Evolving such moral values is the responsibility of this generation.
In every human society, the fundamental principles of the moral code in essence remain the same though the ways and institutions vary. A radical and surprising similarity of man’s mind and heart is discernible throughout history in spite of the bewildering variety of cultures, conventions and institutions. If it is true that man is man everywhere, it can only mean that there is in mankind a common underlying substratum of mental and even emotional attitudes towards certain moral objects and values. This shows that the terms such as mankind, humanity and brotherhood of man are not empty verbiage.
To broaden the outlook of people, we have to improve the quality of education. Secondly, we have to take necessary steps for the spread of rationalistic and humanistic ideas is human society. Thirdly, we have to provide people the freedom and liberty to think independently. Fourthly we have to motivate the people to think. Only by such measures, will wisdom develop in the minds of people. Wisdom will make people tolerant and live amicably with others respecting their rights and feelings. Such enlightenment will enhance the level of moral values practiced.
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