How did the world arrive at its current state of crises ― Philosophy Part 2

BY ERROL A. GIBBS

How did the world arrive at its current state of crises, despite exponential growth in the religions of the world, academia, human knowledge, scientific and technological achievements in engineering and medicines, and material and financial wealth? Can philosophy help to manage or reverse the nature of these crises (Reference: Part 1, Paragraph 2.).

“To do as one would be done by, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality” — John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873) English Philosopher, and Political Economist.

Morality today is associated with standards of sexual behavior, in the laws, the media, and the psyche, but the focus of this writer is the failure in “moral leadership” in the world. The world needs a “moral philosophy.” A philosophy that could usher in “moral enlightenment” of the 21^st century, underpinned by leadership by spirit, integrity, and authenticity.

Looking back at ancient societies, people had a strong belief in the supernatural and mythology, as they interpreted the world around them. In the 6^th Century BCE., Greek philosophers came unto the scene. They fostered a pragmatic view of the world in which individuals asserted mastery over their lives — philosophically speaking. They radically transformed the view of the world from mythological explanations of the existence of human life, to causes and effects of social action, critical thinking, reason, evidence, and morality. Greek philosophy influenced Western philosophical thought and the development of Western civilization.

The works of Socrates (c470-399 BCE), the Greek philosopher was considered the father of ethics and “moral philosophy.” His student, Plato (c.428-347 BCE.), the Athenian philosopher was also considered one of the most important figures and influence of the Ancient Greek world, and the entire history of Western thought.

Growth in Eastern and Western religious dogma expanded throughout the pre-modern (c. a.d. 1200-1600), and the modern eras (1650s – 1950s). In parallel, religions such as Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam emerged. Paradoxically, neither in the field of philosophy nor religion a practical “moral philosophy” has guided human existence in 6000 years of record of human history.

The evidence is in the Ancient Wars (https://www.ancient.eu/war/), barbarism of the “Middle Ages” (500 – 1500 AD.), the ten bloody Crusades (1095 – 1492) between Christians and Muslims, and the Inquisition — the human catastrophe, which began in the 12^th century, instituted by leaders within government systems, whose aim was to combat heretical doctrine.

Fast forward to the enslavement of Black Africans, which began in the 1600s, followed by apartheid and colonialization up through the 20^th century. The 18^th century ushered in “The Age of Enlightenment,” rational thinking, reason, philosophy, expansion in human knowledge, and science. Notwithstanding, the world entered another dark period of catastrophic wars notably, World War I (1914 -1918) and World War II (1939-1945).

Founded on 24 October 1945, at the end of World War II, the United Nations (UN) strives to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, as a principal charter to prevent future wars.” At its founding, the UN, which supersedes the League of Nations (founded 10 January 1920), which had 51 member states. There are currently 193 member states.

Ironically, five years after the end of World War II, war broke out between North and South Korea (1950 – 1953). Likewise, the event of the Vietnam War (1950 – 1975), with incalculable consequences. Global leaders representing member nations of the UN have put forward noble goals to alleviate future wars. They proffered international laws, peace treaties, military alliances, military containment, national boundaries, and even “soft power” Vuving (2009).

This brief chronology of human atrocities underpins the call for a prevailing “moral philosophy,” which alone has the potency to help constrain human inclination for war — impassively normalized by postmodern (1950s – current times) culture. It is time to consider the potency of “moral power” to undergird or circumvent the use of “hard power.”

Some followers of global trends speculate that humankind inches towards the brink of another great World War III. Quantifiably, the world has a higher capacity for war in the 21^st century, with increased global military and industrial prowess, aided by the scientific minds that gave the power of atomic weapons to humankind.

Despite philosophical, theological, and technological growth, people throughout the world express ambivalence at the state of the world. A “boiling point” of discontent is emerging in various parts of the world. People feel a sense of misguidance and betrayal by world leaders. The youths express “moral outrage” for leaders’ disregard for the sovereignty of human life, their “moral clichés,” and their “moral alibis.”

Today, people are in search of new forms of enlightenment that is void of any measure, using a strictly material index. The empirical evidence points to the need for a “moral philosophy” as the first imperative of human survival as a viable species.

Follow us ―as we briefly re-explore these five salient paths ― Philosophy, Religion, Education, Authority, and Leadership for new understandings and solution perspectives that can lead to a better world for future generations.