Ethics and Progress in Today’s World

Abstract

In a book on complexity, it seems to us essential addressing ethical considerations which are central to the issue of human development. As Mayor put it, “The constitution of UNESCO speaks of ‘the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind’. That is what we must strive for. We need to attain this kind of solidarity, which is not only about giving material goods, but also and especially about having a personal interaction and an exchange of knowledge. (…) Whose progress? For what? The progress we need to make is the equality and dignity of all human beings. As long as we are incapable of doing that, we will fail as a civilization.”

Contemporary society has undergone many significant changes. Chief among them are moral pluralism (arising from secularization), individualism and multiculturalism. And these changes impel us to consider ethics as essential.