COVID-19 AND THE CHALLENGES TOWARDS ETHICAL SOCIETIES

Abstract

Philosophically, the COVID-19 Pandemic is an important time to think critically and creatively the most fundamental questions on human life and values, our relations to God, fellow human beings and to nature. We are puzzled with the questions on the ‘right’ thing to do in crises. All aspects of human life are inextricably intertwined with each other and none of them are neutral in value. Ethics is indeed the élan vital of human life and wellbeing.  A living human being is not just a bundle of perceptions (empiricism) or thoughts (rationalism) but is an individual actively and critically engaging in varying relations with God, community, and nature. These relations have a constitutive ethical dimension.We realise that to control the pandemic and to protect lives we must all work together; no one is safe until everyone is safe, and no one could deal with this crisis alone; all of us should work together for the common good. It is a moral tragedy that the Governments spend billions in acquiring military equipment even when the countries struggle to provide food, medical care, and education. Besides COVID19 vaccines we need vaccines against indifferent individualism and the hunger for unlimited pleasure and power.