Moral Philosophy and Ethics: A Historical Perspective on Human Dignity
Moral Philosophy, Ethics, and the Evolution of Human Dignity
Moral Philosophy and Ethics: Normative Systems
Anthropology and the history of culture have developed a moral code, which typically includes a model of the human condition and its vicissitudes, a role model, and a model of society. Currently, it is the legitimate reason. Morality serves two universal human needs. Moral standards are useful and advantageous for survival. Custom, morality, and law:
- Customary standards: Going naked or dressed is imposed by social training.
- Moral standards: We should pity those who suffer. Imposed by social pressure.
- Rules of law: You have to pay taxes. Constraint imposed by authority.
Basic Concepts
Moral philosophy studies historical morality but does not stop there, as it seeks to develop a transcultural ethic:
- Morality: A normative system of a society that determines what behaviors are good and bad.
- Philosophy of Morality: Studies morality as part of human culture, according to its genealogy and criteria of validity.
- Ethics: A cross-cultural morality, drawn by reason, taking advantage of society’s moral experience. We can find a set of rules applicable to all mankind.
Genealogy of Morals: The Origin of Morals
Morals are complex systems with a long history, in which very diverse influences converge. We consider them the result of social intelligence. Each person has their private project of happiness, which must be coordinated with other people. At the bottom of this dynamism is the tireless pursuit of happiness. Each of us has our own idea of happiness, but basic desires are universal. Humans seek pleasure, sociability, and increased opportunities. Our selfish desire to enjoy is controlled by our need to live with other people.
A Shared Rationality
We consider the history of humanity as the test of morality. Philosophers should reflect on this extensive historical experience to develop an ethical model. In the case of morality, this requirement makes us go a step further and seek a shared rationality, social rationality, publishing, and communication. Relying on history, we can propose a law of moral progress for mankind. Every society, culture, or religion, when it gets rid of extreme poverty, fear, etc., converges toward an ethical model that includes individual rights. This law is a hypothesis to be verified. This constitutes the noble history of mankind.
The Method for the Development of Ethics
The Basis of Ethics
Ethics is based on history and the experience gained in practice, which concerns many thinkers. Thus, they say that ethics cannot achieve security and that relativism is the great danger facing ethics. The immutable foundation, valid for all, can only be found in human nature or divine revelation.
- The concept of nature is not enough because everyone puts into that idea what would later be found.
- Appealing to God does not apply to philosophical ethics.
- In discussing the definition of human nature, we distinguish between original and second nature. All human beings possess dignity and fundamental rights derived from it.
Human Dignity
The use of this axiom in ethical and legal formulations is widespread. Since Kant, it has been said that what characterizes the human being from a moral standpoint is their dignity. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated that justice and world peace are based on the recognition of dignity, whose ratio depends on the recognition of the dignity of all. An axiom is a proposition that cannot be demonstrated. Human dignity is not a scientific fact. The concept of dignity does not belong to the vocabulary of science.
The Ethical Project of Humanity
We are at the highest and greatest point of human creation. We have been able to realize our desires in a very broad and vague way of life. We cannot agree on the idea of subjective happiness, but we can agree on the idea of objective happiness in that way of living, to interact with others. In the affirmation of those values that enhance our ability to lead a desirable and fair life. We know the model we want to build, and it is the affirmation of the dignity of all human beings by virtue of being. It encompasses the basic axiom we must accept, defend, and pass on. Ethics designs a common project based on the lessons of humanity. Dignity is intrinsically valuable to the person, being a person, regardless of all their other characteristics.
Toward Ethical Truth
Evidence and Errors
Evidence is what we see with total clarity; it seems obvious what is overridden by stronger evidence. Engineers designing a rocket know that if they are wrong in their calculations, they take as true a false calculation and send their crew to death. Ten people may die, but if we are wrong in ethics… Until the 18th century, the German government believed that Jews were not human beings. We have to distinguish truth from falsehood in these matters, as such fundamental values as peace, equality, and justice are at stake.