In his essay “Perpetual Peace”, the German philosopher Immanuel Kant spoke of the importance of each country joining forces and joining forces in a “league of nations” whose sole objective would be to ensure their peaceful coexistence. According to Kant, governments are morally obliged to seek peace and collaborate with other nations to guarantee perpetual order.
Kant’s ideal and the need for a set of rules to govern our selfish behaviors are now more apparent than ever. In America today, there is a rift between those who still live by the principles of ethics and morals and those who do not care about them at all. Instead of being united by the ideal of peace, as Kant envisioned the future, we are divided by hatred.
Given these circumstances, one cannot help but wonder: what is the future of ethics and morals in America today?
The importance of ethics
No nation can survive without a solid ethical and moral foundation. They are the driving force that shapes individual behaviors within a society. While written law holds individuals and businesses accountable for their actions, ethics represents a system of self-government that enables people to live together and preserve the peace of the community. Due to ethics, we have achieved a state of equilibrium that teaches us to behave when the watchful eye of the law is not available.
However, in today’s society, ethics seem to have eroded. Most of the time, people no longer abide by the unwritten rules that ensured their peaceful coexistence. And, the deeper the erosion of ethics, the more the interaction between people suffers, be it business or friendship. Since fewer people abide by the rules, no one will stop trusting anyone and society as we know it will cease to exist.
Are ethics and morals in America an endangered species?
It may sound like a grim picture, but judging by the way things are going right now, ethics and morals seem like an endangered species. One of the most visible signs that we have a serious ethics problem is within the life and blood of our country: the Government.
The government is the part of the United States where the deterioration of ethics and morals can best be observed. It is here that greed, self-interest and corruption have taken hold of the rigorous standards and behaviors that once prevailed.
Ethics and morals are on the verge of extinction in the current government. Instead of tackling and solving some of the country’s most severe problems, such as the deterioration of the educational system, income inequality, massive student debts, etc., politicians display them in front of citizens, inciting them against each other.
As a result, we are deeply divided on every possible issue, from abortion and marriage to guns, foreign policies, migrants, the right to privacy, and even God.
Fortunately, there is one thing we all agree on: the country is going in the wrong direction.
A ray of hope
Evidence of America’s ethical crisis can be seen everywhere, from the corporate world to our politics. However, our personal and social behavior has improved significantly in recent decades. Although it may not seem like it, we are less racist, homophobic and sexist than we were three decades ago. Rates of crime, drunk driving deaths, divorces, teenage pregnancy and domestic violence have also dropped.
Why this gap?
One explanation could be that while we are divided on important national issues, we have understood that if we want to live in a peaceful community, we must keep our behavior in check. We have understood that together we can work and function better. Now, we must also apply this as a nation.
Let’s not allow the elite to divide us. United we are better and stronger!