Linking Politics with Ethics
Ethics is about Personal Choice
are made when a person acts willingly on an inner obligation in a social setting.
is a matter for each person (or their conscience) alone—choice by choice i.e. I must choose for myself alone in accord with what I personally judge is right &/or good. Review the summary of ethical options.
depend on holding on inner sense of obligation. Being responsible for ethical choices we make or avoid making is a profound expression of human freedom. Paradoxically, it also reflects human bondage in that we must function within the ethical dimension for better or worse.
- No superior or contextual body can make an for us.
- We cannot delegate our to others.
«Following orders» is not a defence—but,
Politics is about a Group Choice
All in a group, even one as large as a society, are responsible in some sense for choices affecting the whole group in terms of what is right &/or good for it both as a whole and for every member.
is a matter for each society alone—choice by choice—and shape those choices. Of course, individuals must make choices in government on behalf of society. Nevertheless unavoidably:
- involves everybody in accepting that certain individuals make such choices on their behalf; &
- affects everybody in regard to the consequences of such choices.
«» (i.e. society-as-a-whole) must be held responsible for the choices that are made or not made—regardless of whether they agree, or whether it is practical for them to agree or to object, or whether they disconnect themselves politically.
Personal Freedom within a Society
affect the societal context for —which in turn affects certain . Both and depend on social institutions and values that develop and persist within that society.
So, could the same personal action, such as:
- exposing one's knees, or
- taking cocaine, or
- sacrificing a virgin, or
- eating pork
be regarded as an ethical-moral obligation in one society, but unethical or non-ethical (neutral) in another?
If you are reasonable and agree, then the specifics of individual ethical obligations within a society can be determined by that society.
Of course, if freedom is to mean anything, a person must be able to decide whether or not to be bound by society's views. That is why must be viewed as distinct from society's .
- More about society's moral institutions.
The Link is Obvious: «What is Right and Good»
In determining what is right and good for a complex group like a society, it is evident that some people have defined roles or responsibilities that are directly about .
Probably most of us are non-political most of the time. Unless personally affected, we view time given to as interfering with everyday life. For the rest we make a living, pursue interests, handle families, and enjoy leisure activities. (As governments become increasingly intrusive, such a position becomes less tenable.)
Those who are take a different view. They want to be involved in the decisions that affect the whole of society.
- In linking to , could the issue involve the ethics of politicians?
Originally posted: July 2009; Last updated: 24-Feb-2014