engleski

Ethical Requirements for Democracy

The way of how we perceive our world is determined by the capacity to integrate our individual fulfillment with social harmony. Values are aspects of truth, tied to fundamental human needs. Statements of value cannot be controlled by observation as ordinary empirical propositions can, values refer ideals, and have the prescriptive relevance. Democracy is essential to a humane social order because it is likely to respect the worth of a person without the coercive interest to encompass the good and right. The value of democracy lies mainly in its nonpolitical benefits, which serve the function of making information freely available for moral agents who require it to decide responsibly. The ability and the will for responsible choice depend not only on sufficient information but also on a regard for and commitment to truth, honesty and fairness. Education is a prerequisite of autonomy because it regains people’ s ability of interpreting and judging the information in the light of secular altruism (personalism ; rational, or ethical egoism, versus individualism (cynical egoism, psychological egoism). The traditional societies (with authoritarian values inherent in them) create imbalance of power and control. It results in people’ s mass apathy and non-participating in public life. Aspects of monetary management, environmental questions, elements of security, and new forms of communication.... cannot be controlled adequately by politicians who exert power without morality. And power without morality is no longer power ; it is coercion!

citizenship; political naturalism; liberal democracy; authoritarianism; integrity; coercion

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