Distinct Moral Voices - Essay Example

DISTINCT MORAL VOICES    Distinct moral voices simply refer to the diversity in respect of the call of conscience among people belonging to differentsocial stratum, age and gender groups. In other words, it is an unconscious urge or motivation based on ethical values and morality that regulates man’s actions, reactions and behaviour. Moral voice has direct link with religious beliefs and practices of the individuals on the one hand and cultural values and social norms on the other. The social norms and morality are the identification of the individuals of a nation. Moral beliefs are said to be grounded in cultural contexts. Culture, is a dynamic process subject to change in response to internal contradictions and critical social thought. There exist numerous positions within a culture, as well as distinctive values shared by members of a culture. The price of toleration, George argues, of serious deviance from a society’s constitutive morality is the loss of a distinctive form of interpersonal integration in community understood as something worthwhile for its own sake. (1993: 65). It is perhaps in the nature of humans that they look for someone metaphysical and supernatural for the solution of their problems and difficulties whenever they feel themselves unable to do the same. It is therefore the both philosophy of ethics and institution of religion came into being. Looking into the history of the world at large, it becomes evident that religion existed in all human societies from the most primitive to the most modern ones. “Humans have formed their own beliefs (called probability belief in mathematics and science) about the set of unknowable elements of the universe.  They have branded their beliefs about the unknowable as religion.” (Acharya, 2006) The questions of life after death and reincarnation exist among almost all religions of the world at large the concepts of virtue and vice are also based on the teachings of the religions. The philosophers and spiritualists strongly believe that there is always present the representative of virtue in the form of the moral voice that forbids man from indulging into malpractices and doing harm to others. Moral voice refers to the call of conscience that regulates mans activities of everyday life and controls him from wandering astray on the one hand and involving in any type of deviant behaviour. It is indeed the warning from the powers of virtue based on religious beliefs and practices. The concept of distinct moral voice is the outcome of distinct behaviour of the members of dominating social stratum to the submissive as well as suppressed classes and communities of society. All human societies from the most primitive to the most modern ones are socially stratified and this stratification is based on caste, class, community, region, religion, race, ethnicity, age-group, status and gender. Thus, Nature has divided the creatures into various kinds and categories among which diversity in sex also contains imperative significance. Male and female are two separate genders which maintain different mental and physical features and characteristics. The difference between the genders is not only physical one; rather, there are divergences in mental capacity, choices, liking and disliking too. There exist different schools of thoughts regarding inequity on the basis of gender. One of them is of the view that there is no significant difference in the thought and capabilities of the genders and the division of labour on the basis of such inequality is unjust and unethical. Social inequalities are found in all fields of life and in all the institutions prevailing in a society. In this pretext the Feminist perspective theory came into existence. The idea of division of labour on the basis of gender gave birth to feminism. Feminism is a strong voice against the inequalities between men and women in respect of social status, division of power as well as work and gender discrimination. Keller (1985) has discussed the same and has refuted the idea of variation among the two genders in her famous book under the title "Reflections on Gender and Science". She has illustrated scientific observation in order to support her argument. She maintains that there are no grounds behind the reality that objectivity and reason are categorised as male traits on the one hand and subjectively and feeling as female features of personality on the other. (1985:16) She maintains that neither any subject or discipline nor any field of life could be specified for one single gender at all. Her writings and works reflect feminist perspective that is, according to her, an outcome of social inequality towards women folk on the part of male dominating societies. Historically, radical feminism started with the assumption that the sexes are adversarially poised, that men have power over women, and that society and its various social relationships can be best understood in terms of their relationship to that situation (Eisenstein 1983). The concepts of Feminist epistemology and Feminist jurisprudence are the product of the later half of 20th century, when many feminist writers and researchers worked on the subjects related to freedom of thought and actions for women. Aloff and Porter (1993) have expressed how social relations and cultural traits regulate and support in respect of seeking knowledge of some specific discipline and field of interest. Shulamit Reinharz, Feminist theorist, in her well-known Feminist Methods in Social Research presents the feminist methodology. (Quoted in the Project 5 of Scheurich). According to which Feminist Perspective has the following objectives: Bringing a positive social change in the society based on the principles of equality and justice Representing human diversity in a refined and systematic way To reveal the fact that Feminism is a perspective like structural functionalism, symbolic interactionalism and Conflict Theory; it is neither a research method, nor liberalism or revolt. The researcher is included in Feminist research perspective as individual and a member of a society. Marxist-feminists characterise women as alienated especially in capitalism, though radical feminists state alienation exists in all economic system existing in the contemporary world. Women at different parts of the world, whether developing or developed, contain a rich and long-term history of struggle against male domination and exploitation. They have strived in an organized way, on their own behalf against exploitation and diminishing circumstances. This history, according to Chowdhury, has been repressed because it is threatening to the state and the power-structure that benefits from women’s oppressed conditions. The history of women’s resistance is complex and rich in the diversity of ways that women have fought back in their specific cultural location and most effective methods for the situation. The richest, most varied, and most typical arena of women’s political engagement is found in the politics of everyday life. The site of this activism is the terrain between the state and family that is usually ignored in conventional investigations of politics. Viewed globally, the diversity of civic activities is staggering, even though countries vary dramatically in the form and extensiveness of civic life and the places of women in it (Chowdhury, 1994:18). In the nineteenth century, women writers, novelists and poets were discouraged while producing their works. Even, Mary Evans Ann had to name her George Eliot to hide and conceal her feminine identity. Though Victorian literature contained the works of female writers, but the atmosphere was not appreciable at all. The share of women in social construction was not acknowledged, although they worked in fields, in hospitals, teaching institutes and other professions. Still the male domination was oppressive and tyrannical. At first, Elizabeth Stanton in 19th century and Emma Goldman in the beginning of 20th century raised her voice in the United States for the women rights. Other feminist theorists including Patricia Hill Collins and others launched campaign for their rights in the later half of 20th century and demanded that women too should have been the same rights as had been delegated to men. In the same way, some researchers and scholars are of the opinion that distinction of thought and perception are the essential traits of male and female sexes which can be observed in their routine life during their work performance and presentation. It is therefore nature has allocated dissimilar responsibilities on both the genders. Since females are thought to be belonging to delicate sex according to the scholars, they have been assigned the role of mother so that they can shower their innate feelings of love, kindness and sacrifice to their children since the time they conceive the child. Though men have also been granted the quality of love and care, yet they cannot display such intense aptitude of sympathies and level of sacrifice for the children as much as the women can do; it is therefore, women are mostly considered the more soft-hearted ones and most suitable for child rearing at homes on the one hand and there services are hired as nurses and medical attendants for the therapeutic profession at hospitals on the other to look after the patients suffering from various injuries and diseases. Hence, it has been proved that the role is dependent of natural and by-birth qualities and traits of human beings. Brain is one of the most amazing parts of human structure, which has the commanding position in man’s actions, perception and motivation. It is not only a complex whole, but also maintains countless dimensions in it. Every mind looks at a matter with different angle and all that makes variety in points of view. The first obstacle to understand the point of other person is lack of knowledge. Absence of proper knowledge keeps man away from understanding the views of others. Furthermore, as one person is seeing some other aspect of a matter, he is unable to understand the others views so easily. Lack of ability of perceiving other’s point of view abstains man understanding it. The main objective behind analyzing distinctive thinking is to evaluate the variation regarding individuals’ perception and knowledge as well as to analyse mental growth and cognitive development of various people. Furthermore, in order to make distinction between good and evil, analysis of judgment and knowledge maintains significant importance. Philosophers develop a practice of analyzing moral voice and measure the outcome of all the actions resulting in a more constructive and productive direction. Since it is mind and thinking which control all the actions and steps taken by man, an analytical thinking motivates work differently in comparison with the ordinary people. Zest for wisdom, virtue, truthfulness and justice is in the nature of man, which man performs on the urge of moral voice existing in his mind from birth. (Zehra, 2006:31) All these longings innate Philosophers and thinkers are always the rebels of their contemporary society. The foundations of their philosophy are laid on the basis of intellect, vigilance and knowledge that aimed at the betterment and welfare of human beings. Looking into the history of all the mighty revolutions, it becomes evident that it was philosophers who awoke the sleeping nation and fought for the noble cause of freedom, equality and justice by their wonderful sayings and writings. The philosophical theme behind the literature of that time paved the way towards equal distribution of power, pelf, possession and prestige for all strata of society. Thus unjust measures enforced by the contemporary laws came to an end with the help of untiring efforts and constant thought-provoking of the great philosophers and sages. . Some people are so prejudiced that they seldom use their intellect while estimating a situation, comment, news or material and have superficial and shallow observation. There are some conditions that influence everyones thinking. These conditions have direct connection with the basic human drives, ideas, conscious, needs and desires including hunger, sex, safety, shelter, security, love, hatred, fear and others and have influence on everyones thinking. In addition, individual, collective and national issues, social norms and cultural values also influence everyones thinking. Absence of such necessities affect everyones thinking. Awareness is a blessing and has association with the consciousness, knowledge and wisdom. Being aware of the conditions influencing everyones thinking is essential to make life happy, jubilant, delightful and secure. An individual’s mental satisfaction in a proper way according to the prevailing laws, mores, norms, values and taboos keep the society in peace and harmony. Has man no awareness of the conditions influencing everyones thinking, his life will be mentally retarded and miserable. While thinking and reading any substance, one should apply the universal intellectual standard including clarity, accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth and logic. The individuals must observe whether my thinking contains clarity, accuracy and precision or not and whether it maintains some logic and depth of meaning or is mere a piece of shallow ideas. Furthermore, there must be an in-depth look into the relevance of such thinking with the sequence of some thoughtfulness that has consequence or not. Thinking is the force that regulates all the actions taken by a person. Positive, creative, productive and high quality thinking leads a man towards more achievements and successes in life. If man ponders on his strengths and weaknesses, he is in a position to take maximum benefit out of his qualities and estimation of self revolutionizes his mental capabilities that ultimately give birth to high aims and strife to achieve them in a systematic way. Failure is one of the most formidable and inevitable consequences of poor thinking. Secondly, man forgets how to examine the facts and figures by in-depth analysis. Poor thinking habits drag man away from using intellect and making assessment while finding the truthfulness and validity of a statement.     The theorists who brought the significance of women’s participation in the social construction programmes to the limelight were declared as rebels and then liberals and Marxists. With the passage of time, these theorists got the title of Feminists. The feminists perspective resembles with Marxism as both these schools of thoughts were founded against the inequality and domination of some other strata existing in the society. Other feminist theorists including Patricia Hill Collins and others launched campaign for their rights in the later half of 20th century and demanded that women too should have been the same rights as had been delegated to men. The feminist jurisprudence is of the opinion that it is law that cause the subordinate role of females in society. In order to keep equality, there should be more and more freedom of both thought as well as action. The first and the foremost task, before the discipline of feminist jurisprudence, is the acquiring a respectable place for woman on the foundations of justice, equality, fair play and neutrality. There should have been no restriction or oppressions because of gender discrimination and violation of the laws of morality. Female jurists take prostitution as humiliation of the whole gender. Catharine MacKinnon, a feminist lawyer and scholar seriously condemns the sexual harassment of women by the male strata. The women should be able, according to her, to sue an employer for sexual harassment based on a "hostile work environment." (Quoted in John Leo, "Scaling the Shabby Barricades," Washington Times, May 7, 1992). They are of the view that maintaining law and order is not the only thing that a society sustains. Rather, the ethical values are the representative of the inhabitants. If both male and female members of a society produce an environment in which there is no fundamental agreement about good and evil they will be unable to sustain even, and the society will have to undergo disintegration. A common morality is part of the bondage. The bondage is part of the price of society; and mankind, which needs society, must pay its price”. (George, 1993:10). Society always survives on the basis of invisible bonds of widespread consideration. “If the bonds were too far relaxed”, George views, “the members would drift apart. While making analysis in the workings of gender in the law, feminist scholars share certain common commitments. Women long for political equality between the two genders. They view sexual identification a category to reconstitute legal practices that have excluded womens interests. One of the feminist legal schools of thought focuses on the differences between the two genders and takes the difference as a favour and blessing. Such school of feminist thought proposes that men and women speak in different voices. “Women emphasize the importance of relationships, contexts, and reconciliation of conflicting interpersonal positions, according to them, whereas men emphasize abstract principles of rights and logic. The main objective behind this group of female thinkers is this that the distinction between the sexes may open opportunities for female stratum. The feminist jurisprudence has supported moral values and ethical law. Through various approaches, feminists have identified gendered components and gendered implications of seemingly neutral laws and practices. There is the need of the articulation and implication of moral law on the same grounds as the statute law in activate so that the biasness on gender basis could be mitigated from society. Woman folk does lust neither for extra ordinary treatment, not it demands dominant status in society. Rather, the motive behind the feminism or feminist perspective of jurisprudence is to eradicate the biased behaviour due to their gender, which is absolutely unethical, immoral and strictly against the supreme law prevailing in the modern world. Marxism and Feminism are interlinked theorists perspectives. Both of them raise a revolt against inequality and social injustice. “The marriage of Marxism and feminism” according to Hartman (1981:2), “has been like the marriage of husband and wife depicted in English common law: Marxism and feminism are one, and that one is Marxism.” Marxism is strictly against the exploitations of human beings. They stand for the survival and betterment of society. It is ethical values that keep a society in perfect order. If individuals neglect morality, the very foundations of the society, according to Marxist point of view, will go to dashes. Marxists regard the law as an ideological instrument for maintaining existing social relations, which are in turn based on control of the means of production. It is thought to be the theory and practice related to the liberation and self-emancipation of the oppressed. The theories of Marxism are based on a scientific method of thought which is called dialectal materialism. “Marxism as a philosophy of human nature”, according to the Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, “stresses the centrality of work in the creation of human nature itself and human self-understanding.” Human self-understanding is the subject matter of ethical values and morality. It is not law, but the ethics that teach humans to have their self analysis. Though the leading moral values in a society serves to justify the interests of the upper stratum, it is the stance that represents the interests of the oppressed that is more valid. Marxist perspective demands parity while incorporation of law in the state. “People must relate to each other”, Pashukanis states, “as independent and equal personalities in order for the products of human labour to be related to each other as values.” The Marxists opine domination of individuals over the fellow beings as the bleakest aspect of moral values and declare it sure to transforming a definite part of the cost of its production, and reproduction, into a product. If there is no space for the ethical laws, the powerful will continue exploiting the weak. The introduction of ethical law to a society will bind the upper classes not to exploit the labour classes. It is morality that protects the interests of all the social classes. Presence of moral law reminds the individuals regarding their obligations to the fellow beings. People are so absorbed in their financial activities that they altogether neglect the moral values and law. Deprivation from the resources urge individuals to revolt the code of law to snatch away all that has been kept out of their reach. Dispossession does not accept the code of law and therefore so many crimes including rape, homosexuality, forced male rape, fornication, incest and murder are the outcome of the reaction of the unfulfilled desires of the suppressed class. “Presence of moral law”, Devlin argues, “would end a number of specific crimes. Euthanasia or the killing of another at his own request, suicide, attempted suicide and suicide pacts, dueling, abortion, incest between brother and sister, are all acts which can be done in private and without offence to others and need not involve the corruption or exploitation of others.” (1965:179). 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Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993. Read More