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John Buttrick writes from his home in Vermont Rocker. Minds Crossing. His contact is he is johndbuttrick@gmail.com.
I grew up during World War II and its aftermath. The 40s introduced me to superheroes. To this day, you can still remember his radio enthusiastic announcer presenting the next episode of Superman with the motto “Truth, Justice, and the American way.”
During World War II, the Superman motto helped define and trust the moral authority of U.S. military efforts in war. ’ TV series was introduced. It helped examine Cold War ethics and behavior and denounce the demagogic US Senator Joseph McCarthy for an anti-Communist witch hunt.
The creators of superheroes were aware of the reality that powerful people would be tempted to use their powers to harm others. was created with the will to limit one’s power by invoking human moral norms and social conventions.
These writers may have been guided by the philosophers Siegel and Schuster’s theory that the perfect human (Superman) chooses to follow a stricter moral code than is required of the common man. This understanding contrasts with the philosopher Nietzsche’s vision that the perfect human being is free from any restrictions imposed by moral laws, as including the ability to choose evil against self-limiting superheroes. Provides choices for defining completeness.
And it’s in the real world. Humans need an ethical code of morality, a philosophical pragmatism, to check for potential propensity for selfish abuse of power. Many attempts have been made to establish a moral code. On a recent morning, in a South Atlanta High School classroom, there are junior ROTC cadets standing to shout out their credo, pledging their commitment to family, patriotism, truth, leadership, and accountability.
Plato advocated the existence of four fundamental virtues to guide human relationships: wisdom, courage, temperance and justice. Islamic principles and Arabic cultural values ​​include hospitality, loyalty, honor and respect for elders. The main values ​​of Buddhism are love, wisdom, goodwill, calmness and self-control, and believe that people should try to end suffering. The Preamble of the United States Constitution declares that we “hold these truths self-evident” about the values ​​of unity, justice, domestic tranquility, defense, general welfare, and liberty. Members of the Boy Scouts of America believe that Scouts are “reliable, loyal, kind, friendly, polite, helpful, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and pious.” Learn
Ethical theories and moral codes guide the conduct of most countries, religious groups, clubs, legal systems, service organizations, and even individuals. Rhiannon Sturgis of Carroll College writes in Sources of Moral Authority:“in a diverse society like the United States, many people feel misunderstood and find their traditional beliefs at odds with the moral values ​​of others.
The challenge is to consider the importance and reasons for particular moral norms, identify the authorities that support them, and name universal and/or cross-cultural elements among all possibilities. postulates the possibility of discovering a true and legitimate universal ethic. When it is possible, it builds respect among the many factions, leading to fruitful debates and ultimately cooperation for change.
Identifying universal ethics is both complex and simple. It has been the work of theologians and philosophers for thousands of years. Their observations and thought experiments are interesting. Some results are true, others are culture-bound, and others expose self-deception.
But today we received in the mail our annual Christmas essay from our friend of 47 years, a country pastor. Describing the bread-making traditions of his extended family, he concluded: He was telling simple truths revealed in his family tradition.
That is, there is a “simple truth” that can be demonstrated to “tell the truth” as the most important moral ethic of all ethical theories, beliefs, fears and misconceptions. Universal truth-telling governs and tests the authenticity of all other codes of ethics. It is the basis of all moral authority.
Removing the need to tell the truth is an exercise in self-deception. I see myself as realistic and convincing, while others see only a naked unreliable fool (the emperor’s new clothes). Truth-telling is the only reliable universal ethic by which all human morality is measured. Even Superman’s motto has changed from “American Way” to a more universal motto of “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow.”
In the new year, we must demand that all politicians, advertising agencies, churches, economic institutions, nations, and all individuals adhere to the universal moral code that all human beings speak the truth. . When I think of the “Laugh-in” TV show, I recall Lily Tomlin sitting in her oversized rocking chair and telling the audience: And that is true. “
Let’s be bound to tell the truth as the main mandate for 2023 and beyond.
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