OPINION: POVERTY, ETHICS AND MORALITY
POVERTY, ETHICS AND MORALITY
"Poverty reduces the chances of
imbibing good morals and ethics, but it is not an excuse for immorality."
Poverty, ethics, and morality are
three intertwined concepts that can have a significant impact on people's
lives. Poverty is a state of being extremely poor and lacking access to basic
necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing. Ethics refer to the principles
and values that guide human behavior and decision-making, while morality refers
to the principles and values that determine right from wrong.
Poverty is a major social-political
issue. Throughout the world millions of people are suffering from poverty and
its crippling effects. Fifty-six percent of the world’s population is currently
poor. 1,2 billion live on less than $1 a
day and 2,8 billion live on about $2 a day.
Poverty is the world’s most
ruthless killer and the greatest cause of suffering on earth. The effects
poverty has on human beings are so drastic that the phenomenon of poverty
merits the undivided attention of governments, human and natural scientists,
aid agencies, relief organizations, and citizens everywhere.
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Poverty is a pervasive issue affecting millions of people worldwide. While most discussions on poverty tend to focus on the economic and social consequences, the effects of poverty on a person's ethics and morality are often overlooked.
Poverty can have significant
impacts on an individual's ability to make ethical decisions and adhere to
moral principles.
People living in poverty often face
a daily struggle for survival with the need to meet basic needs such as food, shelter,
and clothing. This can override moral principles, leading some individuals to
engage in unethical behaviors.
Poverty can make people more likely
to engage in corrupt practices, such as taking bribes or embezzling funds. Lack
of resources can lead to a sense of desperation, and this can override ethical
principles.
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When individuals are struggling to make ends meet, they may feel that they have no other choice but to engage in unethical behavior.
Limited or no access to opportunities
can also be a factor. Individuals living in poverty may not have access to the
same opportunities as their more affluent counterparts. This can limit their
ability to make ethical choices, as they may not have the means or
opportunities to do so.
Individuals living in poverty are
less likely to have access to resources that promote moral development, such as
quality education or opportunities for community service.
Poverty can also limit a person's
exposure to positive role models and environments that foster ethical
decision-making. Without these resources, individuals may not have the tools
necessary to make informed decisions or develop a strong moral compass.
People living in poverty are
socially disadvantaged and face conditions such as discrimination or
stigmatization, which can negatively impact their self-worth and self-esteem.
This can lead to a lack of trust in others and a decreased commitment to
ethical behavior.
Poverty can undermine a person's sense
of social connectedness and lead to a diminished sense of responsibility to and
for others.
Social disadvantage can create a
sense of isolation and disconnection from society, which can make it more
difficult for individuals to see the importance of ethical behavior.
If an individual doesn't feel like
he’s part of a community or that he has a stake in society, it can be hard for
him to see the value in adhering to moral principles.
People living in poverty are less
likely to have access to quality education, which can limit their ability to
understand ethical principles and make informed decisions. Children living in poverty are more likely to
drop out of school or not attend school at all.
Education is crucial for developing
critical thinking skills and promoting ethical decision-making.
When individuals don't have access
to quality education, they may not have the cognitive tools necessary to make
ethical and morally sound choices.
Poor people may have limited social
networks and support systems, which can make it more difficult to adhere to
moral principles and make ethical decisions.
When individuals don't have strong
social networks, they may not have the support they need to make ethical
choices. Having people you can rely on and turn to for guidance is important
for maintaining a strong moral compass.
Poverty can have a significant
impact on people's ethics and morality.
The effects of poverty are
widespread from prioritizing survival over ethical values to a lack of
opportunities and resources, social disadvantage and discrimination to limited
social networks and support systems.
It is common to come across people
who live in wealth and opulence with extremely unethical behavior and very low
moral standards.
Wealth in many cases has been a
causative factor for moral decadence. Children of the rich and well to do have
been fingered in acts that fall far below moral and ethical standards.
It is essential to note that
poverty is not deterministic, and individuals can still uphold high ethical and
moral standards despite their socioeconomic status.
Not all poor people behave
unethically, and not all wealthy people behave ethically.
Unethical behaviors have been found
in highbrow communities as well as in the slums.
They only vary in form and effect.
The difference however is that the poor
have less enabling environment for great morals and ethical behavior.
Poverty reduces the chances of imbibing good morals and ethics, but it is not an excuse for immorality.
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| FEMI OLADAPO WRITES FROM IBADAN, NIGERIA |
Comments
The English writer and social critic of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens, amply demonstrated in his popular novel, _Oliver Twist_ how easy it is to to trash a society's moral code in the face of acute want. But the leaders of his own society have the good sense to know that absolute poverty drive people to crime and they worked so hard to remove it among their people. We pray that one day, such will happen here too.
I go with Hans Jonas, the American-Jewish philosopher, in his submission that "humankind must exist'. And that "Compared to ensuring human survival, *all other moral values and actions are secondary".*