There Is No “We”, Increasingly, Only “I” – That’s The Prognosis!
Dear Nyaaba,
The assumption that ethics, fairness, justice, humanity, and morality are built on the foundational principle that one person cares for another is one of the most profound and precarious ideas in human society.
It suggests that our moral compass is grounded in empathy, the recognition of others as equals deserving of kindness and consideration. Yet, in today’s world, this assumption is being questioned more than ever, and rightly so. The notion that humanity is inherently bound by compassion for one another seems increasingly out of step with the realities of modern life.
As society becomes more interconnected, it paradoxically feels more fragmented. In an age of rapid technological advancement, economic inequality, and political polarization, the idea of caring for one another can seem idealistic, even naïve. We see growing divisions, not only between nations and cultures, but within the very communities that are meant to foster cooperation and mutual respect. The selfishness and detachment seen in the globalized world often overshadow the ideals of fairness and justice. The rise of individualism and the decline of communal ties have led to a disconnection that makes empathy harder to come by.
The notion of morality rooted in care for others also faces the challenge of existential questioning. Is it realistic to expect that everyone will act out of compassion for their fellow human beings when many people are simply trying to survive in a competitive, cutthroat world?
Many argue that the failure of individuals and institutions to prioritize empathy and fairness only exacerbates social inequality, deepening the sense of alienation and despair that pervades modern life. And yet, those who have turned their backs on the traditional moral frameworks often find themselves in a moral void, lost without the guiding principles that ethics and justice once offered.
This disconnect may, in fact, account for the madness we are witnessing today. If we cannot agree on the fundamental assumption that we are each other’s keepers, then the very bedrock of our ethical systems becomes unstable. It leads to a breakdown in trust and a loss of a sense of shared purpose. When the mechanisms designed to ensure fairness and justice, whether through law, societal norms, or governmental institutions, are built on the expectation of empathy, the absence of that empathy can render these systems hollow, ineffective, or even harmful.
Yet, this is not necessarily a bleak diagnosis. Perhaps this crisis calls for a reevaluation, a shift in the very way we approach these concepts. Instead of assuming that care for others is the foundation of morality, perhaps we should build a framework that acknowledges human complexity: that people may act out of self-interest, fear, or apathy, but that systems of justice can still be designed to ensure fairness, accountability, and equality. We might have to reimagine ethics in a way that accounts for the reality of human behavior, recognizing that moral and just societies can exist even if not everyone acts out of pure altruism.
The question then is: Can we construct a world that functions with a sense of justice, even without the belief that everyone will always care for one another? It is perhaps one of the most pressing moral challenges of our time.
Respectfully yours,
The Siriguboy
Kasesi Ricky Peprah
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