Sakshi Education
By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.
Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) did not deal directly with the ethical issues. His materialist conception of history explains all ideas, whether political, religious, or ethical, as the product of the particular economic stage that society has reached. Thus, in feudal societies loyalty and obedience to one’s lord were regarded as the chief virtues. In capitalist societies, on the other hand, the need for a mobile labour force and expanding markets ensures that the most important value will be freedom—especially the freedom to sell one’s labour. The morality of any age is that of the ruling (dominant) class. It makes the oppressive rule by one group over the society acceptable. It finds its place into the prevailing law also.
Because Marx regarded ethics as a mere by-product of the economic basis of society, he took a dismissive attitude toward it.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was a social reformer whose idealism is based on his moral commitment to enduring values like non-violence, truth, simplicity and collective progress at least cost. Gandhian thinking aims at a moral revolution, which advances social justice on a universal scale. Gandhi wanted clean politics to negate the popular view that politics and ethics do not go together and that politics is tainted. He established public figures as reformers. Gandhi can be seen as a saintly idealist and pacifist speaking from standpoint of conscience and truth. Gandhi’s thought dealt with the question of means and ends and categorically stated that only good means can achieve good ends. Gandhian morality is both virtue ethics (character and human values are essential) and deontological( human values are absolute and inviolable under all circumstances).
Marx accepted violence as necessary. Gandhi never did. Marx did not individualise ethics. Gandhi ji wanted ethics to be reflected in personal behaviour on a daily basis. Marx wanted State to execute justice for workers. Gandhi ji was an anarchist who did not rely on State for social justice.
Because Marx regarded ethics as a mere by-product of the economic basis of society, he took a dismissive attitude toward it.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was a social reformer whose idealism is based on his moral commitment to enduring values like non-violence, truth, simplicity and collective progress at least cost. Gandhian thinking aims at a moral revolution, which advances social justice on a universal scale. Gandhi wanted clean politics to negate the popular view that politics and ethics do not go together and that politics is tainted. He established public figures as reformers. Gandhi can be seen as a saintly idealist and pacifist speaking from standpoint of conscience and truth. Gandhi’s thought dealt with the question of means and ends and categorically stated that only good means can achieve good ends. Gandhian morality is both virtue ethics (character and human values are essential) and deontological( human values are absolute and inviolable under all circumstances).
Marx accepted violence as necessary. Gandhi never did. Marx did not individualise ethics. Gandhi ji wanted ethics to be reflected in personal behaviour on a daily basis. Marx wanted State to execute justice for workers. Gandhi ji was an anarchist who did not rely on State for social justice.Published date : 06 Jan 2021 01:46PM
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