Is there a universal morality?

Is there a universal morality? A question that, in the opinion of many thinkers, has a complex answer. If we follow the words of the famous thinker Immanuel Kant, humans “We see things, not as they are, but as we are.”. Does this mean that the interpretation of morality depends on the currents of thought of each era? Or perhaps the personality of each individual?

At the moment We can describe morality as a set of values, principles and prescriptions that the men of a particular community consider to be valid. to capture or frame their real actions. Does it mean that in each society there can be a different morality?

Perhaps we could turn to the nature of ‘value’. This term can be understood as something that must be valued according to the experiences of the subject and as a specific section. That is to say, We talk about ethical, legal, religious, social, economic values, etc.

Now, whatever the type of values ​​are and beyond eras, currents and thoughts, is there an innate universal morality in the genetic code that has remained throughout time in all societies, both current and historical?

Are the values ​​of universal morality repeated?

If we pay attention to the author JG Caffarena, we must talk about evaluations rather than values.. That is, a choice involves a value judgment and an evaluative act perceived by each individual in a unique way. At that time we are conducting an evaluation and issuing a rating.

In this sense, we have to be clear about the nature of the qualification. Why do we make one value judgment or another? Does it depend on our genetic code as a human? Is it related to the education that society has provided us?

If we look throughout history, we can see classical Greek culture. The fathers of politics, democracy, ethics and morality were firm defenders of slavery. However, today’s most culturally advanced societies repudiate this practice.

Now it is worth asking about the social context of each era. Is the ethical and moral interpretation of the Greeks 2,500 years ago less valuable than that of thinkers from more current societies?Were they really acting without morality to facilitate slavery? Did they have a chance to abolish slavery, or was it a practice so widespread and deep-rooted that it did not even cross the mind of the most brilliant of their thinkers?

Morality in history

If we move forward a little and travel back in history to the times of the Roman Empire, we also find slavery as an established and normal commercial practice. Even so, Great thinkers like Cicero said that “slavery is the subjection of a weak and cowardly spirit that is not master of its will.”.

Can this be interpreted as a lack of social context? Weren’t the slaves masters of their will and that’s why they deserved that fate? Seneca also alluded to this topic saying that “The most degrading slavery is to be a slave to oneself”.

Does this mean that for thinkers like Seneca or Cicero there was no possibility of considering slaves as people worthy of their meditations and writings? If this is so, can we judge them as non-moral or amoral subjects for allowing a practice so common in their time?

Obviously, the Greeks or Romans did not see anything transcendent in this sense. However, later Emperor Marcus Aurelius abolished the gladiatorial games and other attractions because they were bloody and unnecessary. That is to say, perhaps they did have the capacity to understand slavery as a barbaric practice, right? Many other examples arise throughout history to the present day, such as the Middle Ages, colonization, ethnic cleansing…

Universal morality and the current time

Currently, In most of the current societies that interact with each other, a series of values ​​can be observed that could be considered common universal morality.. In fact, there is even a UN declaration on the matter, linking in a certain way a correct way of acting, Human Rights.

Nowadays, games such as fights between humans or against beasts would not be publicly accepted. Slavery has been abolished in much of the world and it is rare to find a citizen who can consider it an acceptable practice.

However, Thinking that we are “children” of the society in which we live, are we victims of our circumstances? If there were a radical change in living conditions, would our way of seeing life change? Wars, epidemics, climate change…

That is to say, Is there really a universal morality that has adapted to the changing times? Has it evolved to have purer values ​​every day? Do we have an innate genetic code that leads us to consider good and bad according to the specific circumstances of each situation or time? There doesn’t seem to be a simple answer, but there are thousands of questions that arise over and over again…

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