In this blog post, we will look at not only the justification of ethical values, but also ways to motivate people to actually follow them.
“Respect for the elderly” is an ethical value shared by our society. Respect for the elderly goes beyond mere courtesy or custom and means respect for human existence, which is an important factor in strengthening social solidarity and community spirit. The practice of these values stems from motivation. From this point, two core tasks of ethics can be derived. One is the task of justification, which proves the value of moral principles, rules, or ethical behavior, and the other is the task of motivation, which induces behavior to practice these values. The task of justification is to determine what is justified and why, while the task of motivation is to consider how to guide and induce behavior in order to bring about practice. These two are the twin pillars of ethics, but depending on the era, the main focus of ethics has tended to lean toward one or the other.
Prior to modern times, ethics in both the East and the West was based on a specific metaphysics. For example, ancient Greek philosophy sought ethical justification through the world of ideas, while Confucianism in the East presented moral principles based on the way of heaven. Furthermore, because the ethics of this era were based on specific communities, they were rooted in the history and traditions of those communities and relied on specific political and legal practices. For this reason, ethics recognized the authority of these traditions and practices and focused on motivation based on norms and ethics derived from them. This ethical system played a role in naturally promoting the moral growth of individuals within the history and traditions of their communities.
When ethics focuses on motivation rather than justification, the ethical system associated with it becomes dogmatic, settling into practices and customs, and leading to conservatism and authoritarianism in order to maintain the status quo. For example, Christian ethics in medieval Europe formed an ethical system based on the authority of the church, which was strictly maintained in accordance with religious customs and doctrines. Generally, when a well-ordered community is stable, the demand for justification is not so serious. However, when a stable community disintegrates and a new community is formed, the task of justifying a new system of norms to maintain order comes to the fore.
With the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era, the bonds that bound individuals together and mitigated conflicts between them gradually weakened, and commercial relationships gradually increased. As a result, individualism became dominant, and the demand for justification skyrocketed. In this situation, modern ethics has been preoccupied with the task of justifying duties, rights, and responsibilities, and as a result, it has failed to adequately address the motives behind ethical behavior. The task of motivation is not limited to simply presenting norms, but must also include methods for getting people to follow those norms, and modern ethics has been somewhat lacking in this regard.
In this situation, a new approach to induce ethical behavior became necessary. In particular, with the increasing diversity and complexity of modern society, it has become even more important to understand individual motivations and develop methodologies to promote ethical behavior based on that understanding. Efforts are needed to develop ethical motivation strategies through research in other academic fields, such as social psychology and behavioral economics, and to bring about practical behavioral changes. This should not be limited to theoretical discussions, but should move toward the presentation of specific methodologies that can be applied in real life.
As all moral acts have aspects of justification and motivation, ethics needs to address the tasks of justification and motivation in a balanced manner in all moral domains. At this point, all virtues must always be reflected upon and contemplated from the perspective of justification, and all duties must be pursued from the perspective of realistic motivation. By doing so, ethical life can take root in a richer and more practical form. This will greatly contribute not only to the moral growth of individuals but also to the moral maturity of society as a whole. Ultimately, ethics must continue to fulfill its role as a practical discipline for improving the quality of human life and society.
This approach to ethics can be realized through education and social institutions. For example, school education should teach ethical values and principles while providing various experiential activities that enable students to put these values into practice. In addition, companies and governments should fulfill their social responsibilities through ethical management and policies, and create an environment in which citizens can naturally practice ethical behavior. Through these efforts, ethics can lay the foundation for the growth of both individuals and society.
