If morality is recognizing what is good and subsequently having the ability to choose between what is good and what is bad, then it is obvious that we have lost our moral compass for some time now. It seems like we actually do not know what is good for us. It starts from the basic level, like nutrition and lifestyle.
Our children start losing their healthy instincts early on about what is good for them. They are fed with excessive sugar, salt, and processed food. They grow up in closed spaces because it is “safer,” spending hours in front of screens, which generally makes them overweight and unhealthier than their parents were at the same age.
As a result, their bodies can no longer distinguish what is good from what is not good. Goodness is not just something that momentarily tastes good in our mouths, or something that entertains us and relieves boredom. Goodness is what is good for us in the long run, what creates a healthy gut flora, strengthens our immune system, energizes us, nourishes our bodies, souls, and minds.
Spirit. It is good to be in harmony with the laws of nature. Long-term, health and general well-being undoubtedly rest on the laws of nature. Anything excessive will leave a trace in our system and if repeated, will accumulate over time.
I think food is a great analogy for our general lack of recognition of good. The question of what is “good” is very deep and attempting to answer that question obliges us to think in the long term and see the bigger picture, which is in contrast to our current culture of I want it now!, and instant gratification. Good is what helps us truly develop our potential and what makes us happier in a more lasting way because it relates to our purpose, role, and values. Good is also what is good for all of us, not just a few.
Legislation is not a substitute for ethics. Making more and more laws cannot replace the lack of moral awareness. Without an internal stance that one should behave morally, people will inevitably find “loopholes” and evade responsibility. Trying to circumvent the law for selfish purposes is something we can clearly see in our modern maze of legal constraints that even legal experts struggle to comprehend. As the Roman politician, historian, and writer Tacitus noted: “The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.” And indeed, much has been written about the fact that civilization must rest on moral foundations. Many rightly say that today’s major crisis in the world is not economic or social, but moral.
What can we do about this global moral collapse and how can we restore our moral foundations? Whatever the answer may be, education must be part of it. We need to thoroughly rethink how we raise and educate our young people. Modern education doesn’t pay enough attention to raising and educating children to become moral beings, in the sense that they are capable of choosing what is good with the help of their own internal compass. Academic excellence is emphasized, but it doesn’t have to hinder moral excellence. We need to discuss moral values and virtue again. Moral value is something we can understand. Virtue is something we can do, we can live. Virtue is the practice of moral values. This could also ease today’s epidemic of mental illnesses. Because, as Aristotle said 2400 years ago: “True happiness comes from practicing virtue.”