THE RE-EMERGENCE OF SUPPRESSED PRIMORDIAL INSTINCTS
In today's Western society, many people are part of large organizations and find the principles of the market economy confusing and unjust. They tend to see the market as a system upheld by hidden forces, which leads to a resurgence of basic emotions calling for fairness in distribution. These feelings drive some thinkers, like moral philosophers and prophets, to propose various ideas for a new society. Some suggest returning to old rules that people still value, while others advocate creating new rules that align with people's instincts.
Historically, many philosophers, from ancient times to modern thinkers, have criticized the economic system without recognizing that their own civilization benefitted from the competitive market. They failed to understand how the system of pricing and rewards helped people specialize in serving others, even those unknown to them. The older moral perspectives mistakenly viewed ethical values as unchangeable, ignoring that rules evolve out of successful practices.
The evolution of morals is seen not as a decline but as necessary for a free society. Altruism is often confused with morality, but true morality emerges from cultural evolution rather than conscious design. Although only parts of our moral system can be changed or improved, this change must maintain overall societal order. Therefore, human instincts cannot solely guide our actions; rather, we must critically assess and adapt our rules to ensure they work harmoniously within society’s framework. Civilization relies on learned rules rather than innate goodness, and true progress comes from recognizing the complexities of our moral systems, not from merely following feelings.
In today's Western society, many people are part of large organizations and find the principles of the market economy confusing and unjust. They tend to see the market as a system upheld by hidden forces, which leads to a resurgence of basic emotions calling for fairness in distribution. These feelings drive some thinkers, like moral philosophers and prophets, to propose various ideas for a new society. Some suggest returning to old rules that people still value, while others advocate creating new rules that align with people's instincts.
Historically, many philosophers, from ancient times to modern thinkers, have criticized the economic system without recognizing that their own civilization benefitted from the competitive market. They failed to understand how the system of pricing and rewards helped people specialize in serving others, even those unknown to them. The older moral perspectives mistakenly viewed ethical values as unchangeable, ignoring that rules evolve out of successful practices.
The evolution of morals is seen not as a decline but as necessary for a free society. Altruism is often confused with morality, but true morality emerges from cultural evolution rather than conscious design. Although only parts of our moral system can be changed or improved, this change must maintain overall societal order. Therefore, human instincts cannot solely guide our actions; rather, we must critically assess and adapt our rules to ensure they work harmoniously within society’s framework. Civilization relies on learned rules rather than innate goodness, and true progress comes from recognizing the complexities of our moral systems, not from merely following feelings.