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Hi! It's me again 😊

So... there is this simple phrase that I already wrote about in medium 4 years ago. I haven't wrote in a blog since and you know why? Facebook. I think it sums it all. Anyway, here is the phrase:

Do whatever you want

I read that in "Ethics for Amador" from Fernando Savater, back in the days my mother was trying to tame my adolescence. It's one of those phrases that kept sleeping inside me for years and years, until she told it to me again when I was trying to do something she couldn't agree with (and I did it anyway).

The point in this phrase is that the only true limits to our actions are the judgment we make for ourselves. Example: right now you can go outside and rob someone. Nothing will stop you from doing it, it's easy and quick. But you won't, and there are two possible reasons for that:

1. You want to, but you are afraid of the consequences
2. You don't want to, because you know it is wrong

Most people follow the second rule, but there is a minority that follow the first (they will probably rob someone sooner or later, because they're intrinsically motivated for it.....). Their moral education isn't developed enough to understand the other's point of view, and they are stopped by simple laws and their enforcements. Same happens for apparently insignificant things we do everyday, like trying to pay less taxes, or leaving a small lie to the traffic police. If we have no consequences and our conscience allows it... We just act.

Knowing when to step out of the rules still doing the right thing is a rare feature, but you can find it in several places. If you ever come to Porto (Portugal) you'll notice traffic lights for crosswalks are mere suggestions: people just look to both sides, and if there's no car in sight they just ignore the red light and cross the road. German tourists go crazy: your life won't end if you spend 30 seconds following a basic traffic rule, right?

_{A photo of Porto. Source: Pixabay}

So we can say that the number of rules and laws in a society is inversely correlated with its moral education quality. If we were to invest 100% in having a wonderful education in terms of civility, philosophy, creativity and self-knowledge, and people did learn to respect and see each other's points of view, we would be able to put away so many rules and laws. They just wouldn't be needed anymore.

In other words, the constant need for more and more laws and rules is due to less and investment in real education, which nowadays is kind of busy sticking an inadequate curriculum into kid's brains. And more laws create more and more injustices and suffering. We must push to change education and adapt it to the reality of our society!

Obviously that "do whatever you want" is only applicable in an utopian world, where respect and tolerance are the norm. It just isn't possible in our world. But having an utopian view is good, like a star you follow in the sky!

Did you read "Ethics for Amador"?

How would you organize the education system?

What obstacles do you see in moral education?

If you enjoyed this post please consider:

_{Source: @runicar}

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