Difference between revisions of "Public Morality"
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| + | Public morality is defined as the observance and subscription to moral principles and ethical standards which a society enforces by statutory law, police work or social pressure to everyday public life. Activities that are regulated range from behavior of individual citizens in public spaces to content appearing in the media. Typically, regulation includes prohibiting or restricting prostitution, pornography, and other forms of sexual vice, as well as gambling, cruelty to animals, and the use of alcohol and drugs. These behaviors and actions are usually deemed immoral, sinful or degrading, as they contaminate the social well being of society. Public morality limits the behavior of individuals in public places to what is socially acceptable. In theocracies, public morality may be equated with religious instruction, where both are given the equal | ||
| + | force of law. | ||
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| + | ---- | ||
| + | === Public Morality and Religion === | ||
| + | Public morality is deeply rooted in religion. Philosophers such as John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas have tried to argue that public morality should remain neutral and not deal with religion and other controversial issues, but the two concepts are inseparable as civil law is derived from natural law.<ref>Coming soon</ref> George Washington, the first president of the United States, wrote in his Farewell Address: | ||
| + | “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports… The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them… And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” | ||
| + | Certain Islamic countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have religious police who enforce religious standards in public. Punishable offenses include not abiding by Islamic dress codes, consumption of alcohol and pork, and homosexual behavior. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Public Morality is Dynamic === | ||
| + | Views on public morality do change over time. Homosexuality used to be a criminal offense in most countries around the world, and there are still 10 Islamic countries ruled by sharia law which imposes the death penalty on those charged with homosexuality. It was only at the beginning of the 21st century when countries started legalizing same-sex marriages. Another activity that society has become more tolerant of is pornography. Prior to the Golden Age of Porn, participation in the creation, distribution and consumption of pornography was illegal in most of the United States. Today the porn industry in the U.S. is worth between $10-$12 billion. | ||
| + | Public morality standards vary across cultures and countries. For example, the consumption of alcohol in public is banned in much of the United States, while in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and China, it is legal to do so. Similarly, the recreational use of marijuana has been legalized in Canada and certain states in America, while it remains illegal in most of the rest of the world. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Public Morality in the Digital Age === | ||
| + | Public morality applies to the online space as well. There have been many cases where the online community has acted against perpetrators of immoral acts. In 2009, then 14-year-old Kenny Glenn posted two videos of him and his brother abusing a cat named Dusty. The online community responded by tracking down the creator of the videos and passed his details to the local police department. This resulted in the arrest of a suspect and the cat being taken to a safe place. | ||
| + | Given the prominence of social media in society, public morality offenses have become much easier to be discovered as individuals shift their personal and private lives into the online public sphere. This has raised some ethical issues concerning privacy. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Ethical Concerns of Public Morality === | ||
| + | There used to be a separation between private and public morality, where private conduct does not affect an individual’s behavior in public roles and vice versa. An individual’s conduct at home, religious affiliation and attitudes towards controversial issues are private moral choices. In contrast, one has duties to fulfill in public roles, be it a student or manager of a corporation. With the convergence of private and public lives due to social media, what one does in private will be judged using public morality standards. Individuals need to be mindful of what they say to their friends in private, as someone who overheard their conversation might decide to publish it on social media. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 03:46, 15 March 2019
Public morality is defined as the observance and subscription to moral principles and ethical standards which a society enforces by statutory law, police work or social pressure to everyday public life. Activities that are regulated range from behavior of individual citizens in public spaces to content appearing in the media. Typically, regulation includes prohibiting or restricting prostitution, pornography, and other forms of sexual vice, as well as gambling, cruelty to animals, and the use of alcohol and drugs. These behaviors and actions are usually deemed immoral, sinful or degrading, as they contaminate the social well being of society. Public morality limits the behavior of individuals in public places to what is socially acceptable. In theocracies, public morality may be equated with religious instruction, where both are given the equal force of law.
Contents
Public Morality and Religion
Public morality is deeply rooted in religion. Philosophers such as John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas have tried to argue that public morality should remain neutral and not deal with religion and other controversial issues, but the two concepts are inseparable as civil law is derived from natural law.[1] George Washington, the first president of the United States, wrote in his Farewell Address: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports… The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them… And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” Certain Islamic countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have religious police who enforce religious standards in public. Punishable offenses include not abiding by Islamic dress codes, consumption of alcohol and pork, and homosexual behavior.
Public Morality is Dynamic
Views on public morality do change over time. Homosexuality used to be a criminal offense in most countries around the world, and there are still 10 Islamic countries ruled by sharia law which imposes the death penalty on those charged with homosexuality. It was only at the beginning of the 21st century when countries started legalizing same-sex marriages. Another activity that society has become more tolerant of is pornography. Prior to the Golden Age of Porn, participation in the creation, distribution and consumption of pornography was illegal in most of the United States. Today the porn industry in the U.S. is worth between $10-$12 billion. Public morality standards vary across cultures and countries. For example, the consumption of alcohol in public is banned in much of the United States, while in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and China, it is legal to do so. Similarly, the recreational use of marijuana has been legalized in Canada and certain states in America, while it remains illegal in most of the rest of the world.
Public Morality in the Digital Age
Public morality applies to the online space as well. There have been many cases where the online community has acted against perpetrators of immoral acts. In 2009, then 14-year-old Kenny Glenn posted two videos of him and his brother abusing a cat named Dusty. The online community responded by tracking down the creator of the videos and passed his details to the local police department. This resulted in the arrest of a suspect and the cat being taken to a safe place. Given the prominence of social media in society, public morality offenses have become much easier to be discovered as individuals shift their personal and private lives into the online public sphere. This has raised some ethical issues concerning privacy.
Ethical Concerns of Public Morality
There used to be a separation between private and public morality, where private conduct does not affect an individual’s behavior in public roles and vice versa. An individual’s conduct at home, religious affiliation and attitudes towards controversial issues are private moral choices. In contrast, one has duties to fulfill in public roles, be it a student or manager of a corporation. With the convergence of private and public lives due to social media, what one does in private will be judged using public morality standards. Individuals need to be mindful of what they say to their friends in private, as someone who overheard their conversation might decide to publish it on social media.
References
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