Ethical Values___Past Or Present

Ethics means mannerism and mannerism mean pleasant behavior. Behaviour is a way of interaction with society.  Great social scientist Aristotle profounded that Man is a social animal. If a man has to continue to exist in society he should be familiar with the ethical values of that society. It is an obligation upon him to abide by these values. In case he denies he would not be accustomed to society.

With the passage of time, civilization has witnessed great dilapidation of social and ethical values. As compared to the past social behavior has brought changes. We may hold responsible many causes for this change.

Some people say this degradation of moral and ethical value is due to the advancement of technology and the development of materialism. This flimsy connotation can easily be falsified as advancement and development widen the foresight and imagination of human beings. How can this be a cause of ethical degradation?

Some critics take a plea that the new generation is not acquainted with ethics and social values. They put to blame by referring to the attitude of youth toward old customs and rites. Nonetheless, they forget the concept of the generation gap. They desire the new generation to put into practice their way of thinking and to adapt their way of life.

The abrupt development of technology has brought rapid changes in gesticulation. There is need of the hour to acknowledge retrospective mannerism.  The present situation requires a new social contract among the individual based on the past and present values. This social contract should be self-conceived by taking into consideration better ethical values. In new contract ethical values of past and present should go hand in hand for better development of civilization.