Thursday, August 23, 2012

Situational Ethics

What is ethics?   Yea, look it up, but the dictionary is an example of situational ethics.  If you were to say to someone today, "..a pox on you!", would it mean the same as it did in the 16th Century?  The answer is no.  As society changes, should ethics necessarily change?  And you are going to tell me that even in other countries, there are different ethics from those in the U.S., because of the different type of culture.  Yes! 

What is consistent from day-to-day, from year-to-year, from decade-to-decade?  Truth!  Truth is everlasting, eternal, unchanging.  What is true in the 16th Century, is true in the 21st Century, but does it necessary follow that what isn't true in the 21st Century wasn't true in the 16th Century, that is, if it doesn't endure the test of time, then it is not true?  On the other hand if something was true, and the knowledge of it was not passed on to the following generation, does it mean that it wasn't true?  "..Truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it.", meaning it is not something that is concocted, or invented, by man.  Man can only discover the truth that already exists.  This is called getting the "Big Picture", putting aside the opinions and half-truths that have collected over the span of time.

It the recent past there has been a movement afoot to legalize marriage for all arrangements...in other words, situational ethics or civil rights.  At one time it was legal in the U.S. to own slaves.  It was legal during the Roman Empire, the Assyrians, the Egyptians, even the Israelites had slaves, but how do we feel about it today?  It is morally wrong.  Is that true?  Was it wrong during the other ancient societies, or just situationally ethical?  On the other hand, it has always been wrong to take an innocent life, but in modern times it has become a "right" to terminate a life of an unborn child.  What is the truth?  Is one life more important than another?  Is it a civil right? 

Will it be legal if we fast-forward 100 years?....I don't know, but this is definitely a true observation.....

No comments: