At the start of the 2000s, many people have already noticed the rapid technological innovations until the present time. Especially for the children who were born in the 80s and 90s, they have experienced the transition of using landline phones to fancy smartphones all at once. Yet, some people are possibly not aware of the economic or moral issues which are related to the advancement towards the future (Hermann 305). The paper suggests how the financial situations can directly affect morality and evolution of human life in the 21st century.
But firstly, we should start with a situation which one might be familiar with. Let us consider a person A in their twenties with a stable job. They are unmarried and living alone in a rented house. In modern times, this is considered to be an ideal case since this person can sustain their basic needs and at the same time, save money for the future. If there might be debt, their salary and hard work can manage their credit balance until they can improve their financial situation in the future.
On one hand, there is a person (namely B) who is living across the town. They are married and living with three children (ages 3, 12, and 16). Both of the parents are employed, yet the mother got only a part-time job which would only aid their living expenses. They might own a house, yet the mortgage is not fully paid. Hence, the family is actually experiencing some financial trouble. In this case, they are still fortunate due to the opportunities for solving their problems. However, the future is uncertain for these people since it might not be favorable due to the possible incoming decisions.
In comparison to the first two examples, person C is encountering a different life. They found it difficult to finish their studies due to a lack of financial support. Instead, the person started taking part-time jobs to sustain their living expenses. In some cases, they are experiencing some racism and discrimination from their family background. Such issues include lesser salary than their peers and a lower tendency for promotion, regularization, or tenure. Similar to this story, co-workers who are homosexuals are discriminated against and receive fewer benefits than the heterosexuals.
In the first case, some people are privileged enough to sustain their needs and wants in these modern times. Back then, the world is not much affected by inflation such that some of the first-world countries are mostly leaning towards the market of “cheaper goods.” In previous decades, unemployment rates and economic situations are actually not stable. Yet, in comparison to the present times, it is considered to be worse today. Our family and friends might afford to hang out with us in cafes to get some overly expensive food and beverages. However, based on the three examples, the poverty line is separating the life between the rich and the poor.
The lifeboat as a metaphor is an eye-opener since the word “privilege” is a distinguishing phrase for the lucky and the unfortunate ones (Hardin 2). In most cases, there will be some people who will join volunteer programs and sacrifice their time to lend their hands for philanthropy. Still, these people will still follow their “me-first” attitude and attend their needs before anyone else, which is understandable due to human nature. In other words, the unlucky will remain in their situation until they will achieve their luck to get some privileges like other people.
In another case, the progress of the 21st century is focusing on environmentalism such that people should reduce their plastic usage and recycle their wastes as much as possible. Yet, capitalism will hinder this agenda since it focuses on economic growth rather than the preservation of natural resources. It is contradictory for businesses to avoid this practice since it will greatly affect their sales and customer satisfaction.
Hardin’s ideas can be correlated to the situation as well since the younger generation like person A is luckier than person C. It is derived from privilege since person A can afford a better education and healthier options. For instance, these people can buy alternative goods which are actually more expensive than the local options. They can also follow the environmentally friendly methods, which are also much time-consuming. These things are not affordable for the case of person C, both in terms of finance and time.
Moreover, the regulations from the local agencies and the state laws are not strict as the environmental groups are expecting for implementation. Despite the countless protests, the 21st century will still lean for economic growth rather than the protection of the environment and health of the people. In my perspective, it is not surprising if there would be massive destruction and calamities which would be caused by global warming.
Person B, for example, learns about proper waste management and reduction through their inquiries from friends and colleagues. Yet, the establishments are still not following the restricted usage of plastic containers. While their family might be educated about this movement, the participation is still lacking due to the lesser strict implementation. While these people are attempting to follow the recommendations, they cannot actually avoid it since it is much cheaper to buy small packages rather than bulk orders.
In terms of career, people are mostly eyeing the engineering structures and information technology than the agriculture sectors. Due to discrimination and convention, the youth are looking for more profitable employment which could benefit their lives in the long run. Only some of the younger generation would only choose the difficult careers and others which they could offer their services. The never-ending stigma for professionalism and societal rank are a few factors that contribute to this situation.
Person A is satisfied with their job about financial status, yet it is not the actual dream career for them. The youth are mostly prioritizing the practicality over passion. Thus, they should be satisfied with securing a stable job in this economy. Still, this person is thinking about the lost opportunity: become happy in their dream career. On the other hand, person C is experiencing hardships in part-time jobs due to the lesser opportunities for higher education. The management is also mocking their financial situation, like for instance, laughing at their uneducated guesses and lack of knowledge in the job. This type of discrimination, which also creates a form of power, is similar to the letter of Gandhi about economic and moral progress.
If people will finally realize that every job has a purpose of aiding the economic growth, the youth of the future might consider equalizing the employment. This should be according to the deserved compensation for their accomplished tasks. Gandhi (337) and Hermann (52) indicated that wealth and power are both factors that can strain our values and morality. As an implication, the youth should be mindful of the effect of economic progress on society’s ethics.
By evaluation, the ideas of Hardin and Gandhi are emphasizing the significance of the “balance” in society. They noted how one should fulfill their goals and lend a hand if needed. At the same time, they should not forget their passion. While we always aim to live our life to the fullest, everyone should also follow the dreams that can bring us the most satisfaction.
Works Cited
Gandhi, M. K. Economic versus Moral Progress. Speeches and Writings of MK Gandhi with an Introduction by Mr. CF Andrews and a Biographical. Madras: GA Natesan and Co, 1916, 286-293.
Hardin, G. “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor.” Psychology Today (1974), 38.
Hermann, J. “Possibilities of Moral Progress in the Face of Evolution”. Ethical Theory And Moral Practice, 20(1), 39-54. 2016. doi:10.1007/s10677-016-9737-2
Hermann, J. “The dynamics of moral progress”. Ratio, 32(4), 300-311. 2019. doi:10.1111/rati.12232
