The Science of Morality, Essay Example

The Science of Morality: Moral Values, Freedom and Democracy

Introduction

According to Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, prudence, benevolence, justice and self-command are the keys to living a fulfilling life. Smith refers to Prudence as a simple frugality and refers to prudent individuals as diligent. and never obtrude others. In the book, Smith equals lack of prudence to crudeness judging it as uncivilized. He also claims that courtesy and prudence are end-results into cold self-esteem that takes charge of one’s morals. Smith’s discussion asserts that prudence is a quality that necessitates consistent custom to reflect. Achieving satisfaction and admiration through wisdom not only rules self-confidence in someone but is also augmented by chastity beaming at supporting others. Smith emphasizes satisfaction by declaring that the honor of fairness and kindness delimit an individual from maltreating others, henceforward cultivating contentment (Crossan et al., 2013). Smith further emphasizes the virtue of compassion and advises that one should not await much benevolence from others but instead live b letting others live. He appends that benevolence is improved through fairness which is its principal support. This paper explains the role of morals in governing one’s desires, self-command, and the socio-political ideologies influencing the freedom of Americans.

Morals and Virtues

The qualities of prudence, justice, and benevolence are rooted in self-command. According to Adam Smith in his book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, additional virtues stem their realm from self-command. He adds that Self-command is more unadorned than discipline and models a person towards the uncontrollable cravings of mortal life. Besides, Self-command is gained and strengthened by making it a regular practice. Self-command further assists in coping with stressful and unpleasant circumstances. Smith’s contention on the position of virtues in behavior recognizes that corrections and compensations likewise fit a practical society (Crossan et al., 2013). He accentuates the influence of self-command by considering two prospects stemming from self-command.

Smith describes justice as an assortment of principles of demeanor and edicts that magnify a society’s endurance by generating orderliness. He inspires his readers to adopt equity, for, without justice, tolerance cannot endure. According to him, equity is an outcome of virtues like compassion and philanthropism, grace and pity. Smith’s discernment of fairness rejects societal measures like hate, blames, and finger-pointing but enhances responsibility for one’s actions; he explains his understanding of justice as the fruit of inner self-criticism and purity of character.

On the other hand, justice restrains the injustices effected to each other in the bonds, and goodwill enriches the convivial experience in the relations. The three ideals are interdependent but improve the condition of living both psychologically and emotionally by elevating the delight of others. Smith reckons ardor balance as an additional advantage of self-command; he maintains self-command fixes one’s ill purposes substituting them with lucid criticism (Crossan et al., 2013). His main theme is based on creating harmony and establishing a morally functional and free society. Smith consolidates the sense of righteousness in the community by concluding that persona is undeterminable but essential and demands practice and exercise to progress.

Smith understands that everyone solicits affection and is deserving of appreciation and acclaim. He appends that moralistic advancement commences when personalities explore love, approval, and recognition by pleasing others. Morals are consequently utilized in charming characters who advocate of them as fit or not. Excellent morals are raised by relatives, buddies, and other colleagues, and corrupt morals are disallowed.

Smith supplements that every principle of ethical values is salutary to the social order. By staying dependable to our morals, we uphold our happiness admittedly but inadvertently, sustaining the sanctity of virtue. Smith describes justice as an assortment of principles of demeanor and edicts that magnify a society’s endurance by generating orderliness. He inspires his readers to adopt equity, for, without justice, tolerance cannot endure. Amidst recompenses and corrections, human laws may target identical consequences (Smith, 2010). Yet, they can nevermore remain as prompt, harmonious, or practical as conscience and the decency jurisdictions masterminded by the universe. He designates a self as guaranteed just if they are reasonable, equitable, and righteous. He and settles that aforementioned is only accomplished in self-command (Crossan et al., 2013).  According to him, equity is an outcome of virtues like compassion and philanthropism, grace and pity. Smith’s discernment of fairness rejects societal measures like hate, blames, and finger-pointing but enhances responsibility for one’s actions; he explains his understanding of justice as the fruit of inner self-criticism and purity of character.

Smith reckons ardor balance as an additional advantage of self-command; he maintains self-command fixes one’s ill purposes substituting them with lucid criticism (Crossan et al., 2013). His main theme is based on creating harmony and establishing a morally functional and free society. He designates a self as guaranteed just if they are reasonable, equitable, and righteous. He and settles that aforementioned is only accomplished in self-command (Crossan et al., 2013).  According to him, equity is an outcome of virtues like compassion and philanthropism, grace and pity. He inspires his readers to adopt equity, for, without justice, tolerance cannot endure. According to him, equity is an outcome of virtues like compassion and philanthropism, grace and pity. Smith’s discernment of fairness rejects societal measures like hate, blames, and finger-pointing but enhances responsibility for one’s actions; he explains his understanding of justice as the fruit of inner self-criticism and purity of character.

Impacts of Socio-Political Ideologies on The Concept of Freedom & Rights and Democracy

Classical Liberalism

Classical liberalism refers to an ideology advocating for civil and economic freedom. This ideology ensures civil and financial freedom by championing rights such as private property ownership, freedom of religion and the press, free trade, and a stable market economy (Ellerman, 2015). According to history, the ideology originated from Europe as a result of interactions with the Roman Bishop. Its development was facilitated by the decaying order of the 17th and 18th centuries, urbanization, and politics. The ideology was championed by two political parties (Laclau, 2012); the Protestant Reformation believed that a divine relationship existed between the people and the spiritual. The Enlightenment was the second movement that assumed that a natural order existed in the world and independent of faith (Laclau, 2012). According to this ideology, the government cannot impose rights on three elements: life, liberty, and property. Its emphasis on an individual’s right to property is loved by many because it promotes a capitalist economic system (Ellerman, 2015). Also, its hostility to the government makes it a well-known ideology because it prevents government interference in three ways.

First, this ideology is against government interference with the market. It helped traders to oppose the policy of mercantilism. Secondly, it separates church and state. The Catholic, Anglicans, and other churches discriminated against business elites who were practicing this ideology. Finally, it is against the belief that the government is responsible for the poor and the ill (Ellerman, 2015). The doctrine believes that the fate of an individual is a result of his personal decisions, and the ability to succeed in life is dependent on the individual’s efforts.

Nationalism

Nationalism is an ideology by the citizens of a state that their country is superior to others. The right-wing populist parties use this ideology to make citizens patriotic to their country. Citizens share the doctrine through means such as language, culture, and religion (Laclau, 2012). The term was first mentioned in 1409 at Leipzig University and was used actively from the 18th century as national egoism.

A common language effectively unifies the community because of the ability to understand each other when communicating. Also, protection, goals and, achievements can be met once proper communication is done between the respective parties (Laclau, 2012). Cultures promote a sense of identity between the members of a community because of shared traditions and beliefs. Religion promotes nationalism because of a common belief in the same deity. Also, these traditions promote civilization because of order when carrying out events in a national setup. The existence of a common belief rules out instances of gender polarization and a sense of identity (Laclau, 2012). Despite different gender roles within society, the traditional settings of various tribes promote diversity, promoting nationalist ideologies.

Conservatism Ideology

Conservatism is both a social and traditional philosophy that promotes social institutions ins a traditional context. The conservative ideology diminishes the strength of the government in social status by favoring minimal government interactions in the affairs of the state (Gold, 2010). The believers of this ideology believe that the government should impose restrictions on social evils such as abortions, same-sex relations, and conditions on the availability of contraceptives. They think that traditional morals should be promoted by imposing bans on any item that may be harmful to the lives of human beings.

The ideology originated as a result of the French revolution of 1789. The creed was developed after 1815 by the supporters of the Bourbon monarch in France. Edmund Burke, a British parliamentarian, is believed to be the founder of modern conservative ideology (Laclau, 2012). The main distinction of this ideology from liberalism is that conservatives do not believe that human beings’ morals can be improved due to social change (Laclau, 2012). Christian conservatives believe that humans are guilty of their original sin to express their rejection of morally changing. Instead of assuming that human beings are driven by a sense of ambition to achieve their goals, this group of people believes that humans are driven by their passion and desires (Laclau, 2012). The main characteristics of conservative temperaments are distrust and aversion (Gold, 2010). The attempts by philosophers to plan for future behaviors and restrictions to traditional practices have proved futile because society is in constant and unpredictable changes.

Fascism

Fascism is a far-right ideology comprising dictatorship, suppression, authoritarian ultranationalism, and strong opposition to society. The doctrine came into play between 1919 and 1945 in central, eastern, and southern Europe. Menito Mussolini was Eurpoes first fascist leader. Fascist parties and movements are common because of their military nationalization, rejection of electoral democracy, cultural and political liberalism (Gold, 2010). From the beginning of 1940, many fascist parties were developed in Europe, Latin America, and South Africa. The exiles developed Russian Fascist parties in Manchuria.

The ideology has mixed reactions by the members of the society because of different beliefs. Some view it as irrational, while others are impressed by it. Others believed that it feared a communist revolution, while others disagreed by stating that it is focused on regeneration and the recreation of a “new man” in the society (Laclau, 2012). The positive impacts of this ideology on society include; first, fascism prioritizes the welfare of the state and its citizens. The state funds are used to strengthen the military defenses of the state together with the cultural improvements (Smith, 2010). The citizens are taken and trained on defensive strategies, and the national landmarks are created to promote various cultures in the state (Gold, 2010). Secondly, the ideology promotes socio-economic equality by eradicating the views of social classes. Finally, decision-making is fast because one person is in control of the state’s resources.

The adverse effects of this are as follows. It promotes the abuse of power because all state control is under one person. Also, the leader’s desire for more power making him a threat to the balance of the economy and the lives of his subjects because they may institute forced labor (Smith, 2010). Secondly, the freedom of speech is limited because the person in power may destroy all avenues that promote the freedom of expression to void revolutions and competition for leadership (Gold, 2010).

Summary

This paper summarizes the role of morality in determining the freedom and freewill of humans as being a subject to self-command and intergrity. Smith’s discernment of fairness rejects societal measures like hate, blames, and finger-pointing but enhances responsibility for one’s actions; he explains his understanding of justice as the fruit of inner self-criticism and purity of character.  The paper brings up the socio-political concepts developed by the society, out of consensus and agreements with science and socio-organizational institutions to assert the significance of living and letting live. The paper also explains the role of morals in governing one’s desires, self-command, and the socio-political ideologies influencing the freedom of Americans.

References

Crossan, M., Mazutis, D., & Seijts, G. (2013). In search of virtue: The role of integrity, values and character strengths in ethical decision making. Journal of Business Ethics, 113(4), 567-581.

Ellerman, D. (2015). Does classical liberalism imply democracy? Ethics & Global Politics, 8(1), 29310.

Gold, Andrew S. “A moral rights theory of private law.” Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 52 (2010): 1873.

Laclau, E. (2012). Politics and ideology in Marxist theory: Capitalism, fascism, populism. Verso Trade.

Smith, A. (2010). The theory of moral sentiments. Penguin.