by Lucas Michieli

Created on: October 14, 2009   Last Updated: November 09, 2009

The great Scottish thinker David Hume made a distinction between law and morals; the law is what you are compelled to follow, morals are what you ought to do.

This World in the west was founded with intentions of being morally and generally freer. It has progressed further than could have been imagined by its founders. The structure of the new world allowed us to deviate and create differently than the structure of the old World, the West has contributed uniquely to the Earth because of this. However, our personal morals have found difficulty applying themselves in their interaction with some new stimuli; technology, freedom, temptation, and opportunity; created since the West's inception. We have not been able to stimulate our morals adequately to regulate our new ways of thinking and daily activities.

In order for the west to become the "factory nation" that it was for the longest time, law had to be accentuated in order to provide an environment in which lucrative businesses could flourish. Producing and earning have been of the utmost importance. A "work hard, play hard" mentality developed, which left morals on a much lower podium. You cannot materialize good will, it is worth: nothing.

The fact that there are those that lead a life of anarchy in a society as advanced as ours proves that law is not enough, something is obviously missing and desperately needed. Still, with money and law in mind, morals (what you ought to do) have been taught to a lesser and lesser degree. Further the promotion of science has led to the near destruction of the older power, Religion. Religion dictated more than law, it announced what you ought to do in order to live life while having a favorable effect on others. After that, along went spiritual thinking and a wholesome love for oneself. Religion and spirituality may be seen as an enemy of free thinking at times, but maybe it was better having this enemy dictating and guiding our thoughts, instead of our selfish and degrading desires. Healthy morals are not to be taught by the popular, all consuming media and television. Something must take the place of religion-in relation to morals.

Our society and concepts, in many ways, have turned our bodies into items, as opposed to a part of a whole person. The soul has been dying for awhile now and along with it courtesy, dignity, and modesty. That short list pretty much sums up the roots of morality. What gratification will come out of humane treatment of others in the future? Will it be necessary to become a police state, to be safe from our own indiscretion toward ourselves and others?

There have always been those that were deemed immoral. However, some time ago, the majority of the population acted morally even though there was no direct personal gain involved. Today, nothing is done for free and time is money. Why waste your time and efforts acting pleasingly or ethically?

Are personal morals decaying, and if so what is the cause? The answer is yes; the purpose is wealth, progress, and everything you see around you.

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