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Moral
education
and
democracy
Law can not stop evil
- Good can
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Hebrew
Encyclopedia and Websters dictionary, democracy is
first and foremost a system of governing, ruled by the
people, for the people, based on the majority principle.
The system is realized
through
parliament's
supervision and government's
execution,
chosen for terms of office in periodical free elections .
The democratic regime is guided by an official constitution that specifies
individual rights and sets limits for the government.
Among these rights are: equality before the law, equal,
social and political rights and opportunities, freedom
of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion and
more. Democracy also possesses an advanced social
character.
The regime is also guided by laws intended to deter
people from doing evil, and appoints judges to punish
people, should they not act according to the law.
Even at this stage, we can identify a fundamental
disparity between this system and man
Namely, between
people with their innate imperfection,
and
between
this liberal
form of regime. For further details, see
the page regarding
mans
moral
problems,
in this website.
We also regretfully note that the democratic regime
encourages and even guides one to the doing of evil,
since it does not provide the education one requires for
the doing of good. Therefore, laws and punishments are
its solutions to wrong-doing. As such, the regime
induces in one the development of an erroneous
self-image, portraying man as a negative creature. This
self-image severely harms one's positive development,
therefore brings him to act in a evil manner . The same thing
applies to a leader's functioning.
Clearly, in order for both sides to function
appropriately, that is, for the democratic system to
operate to the people’s benefit and for the people to
enjoy the benefits provided by the democratic system
without abusing it, both sides must make adjustments. We
will achieve these adjustments if we improve people’s functioning through
moral educationand constitutionally obligating
government to provide it.
I see it as a basic condition which without it will be
very difficult for the system to function appropriately.
We identify additional, fundamental moral problems pertaining to:
Numerous laws designed to minimize people’s wrong doing, which are only partially successful; rather than working towards improving people’s traits and thereby leading them to do Good. In doing so, the government consciously limits people’s functioning and even harms it, instead of improving and expanding it.
The unhampered development of odd groups, which endanger democratic freedoms and harm society’s proper function.
In summary: While providing education and knowledge,
we must not forget to also actually do something in order to direct it towards the Good.
Without such activity, we give rise to people's most wicked actions.
Law can not stop evil - good can
It could be said that the democratic
system, due to a variety of reasons, does not realize
the purpose for which it appeared.
I must stress that by its lack of moral education, the
democratic regime causes its people great suffering. Not
only does it not provide such content (moral education)
as would develop the individual's positive functioning,
but in so doing, it leaves the way open for people to
absorb negative education with all its consequences. The
regime is therefore guilty of two wrongs.
What is the reason that government and parliament avoid
improving people’s ethical values? If such improvement
might bring with it the election of ethically-improved
officials who would operate to benefit the individual
and society, then it poses a threat to
ethically-unimproved officials who wish to continue
ruling.
This may be reason enough to avoid providing such
education, and thus keep us “stupid,” with all its
attendant negativity, as this is an easy and convenient
way for them to rule.
An additional reason
might
be that the regime's concept
of
man is of
a negative entity, therefore regarding
law and
punishment as
suitable means to
deter man from
doing evil.
Unfortunately, the citizens are not adequately aware of
this moral problem, and probably some of them holds this
same false self-image.
Note: There are surely additional reasons for things being the way they currently are.
Fortunately, all of the aforementioned self-improvement processes have been in our posession
for many years, and merely need to be activated! It is fully described in my book "Man and the realization of his purpose", and also included within this web site.
I have chosen the
way
mentioned here after repeatedly presenting the solution for our society's
problems to all the high-ranking addresses in Israel,– unfortunately without results.
I assume
that in other countries the reasons for the reality described here are similar.
Recommendations
The
summary chapter presents the process needed to bring
people to act in a personal and social
moral improved way.
I
shall conclude with a statement by Hsun-Tzu, a Confucian
philosopher, living approximately 2300 years ago, who
believed that people are evil beings, and thus
require laws of justice to heed to, punishments to deter them from
doing evil, but also
schools to lead them into doing good.
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Good people
do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will
find a way around the laws.
PlatO
In matters of truth and justice, there is no
difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the
treatment of people are all the same.
Albert Einstein
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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to
condemn an innocent one. |
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Voltaire |
Any fool can
make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of
genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite
...
Albert Einstein
We can't solve problems by using the
same kind of thinking we used when we created them.
Albert Einstein
As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit
atrocities.
Voltaire
Technological progress alone is like an axe
in the hands of a pathological criminal.
Albert Einstein
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only
light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
A nation or civilization that continues to
produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the
installment plan.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Few people are capable of expressing with
equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social
environment.
Albert Einstein
Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that's no
reason not to give it.
Agatha Christie
We must become the change we want to see in
the world.
Mohandas Gandhi
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