External Moral Order

An External Moral Order is a moral framework that encompasses the collective moral beliefs, ethical standards, and value systems that moral agents have to navigate.

• AKA: Prevailing Moral Framework.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) include Societal Norms, Legal Ethics, and Cultural Values.
  • It can (typically) be influenced by Historical Events, Religious Teachings, and Philosophical Traditions.
  • It can (often) include Institutional Ethical Frameworks that govern professional conduct.
  • It can (often) play a crucial role in shaping public policy, legal systems, and social justice initiatives.
  • It can (often) be a source of Moral Conflict.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • San Franciscan's Prevailing Moral Order, 2023, which includes ...
  • Larry Layton's Prevailing Moral Order, 1978, which included the Jonestown Cult's Moral System, a framework imposed by Jim Jones' Peoples Temple characterized by extreme authoritarian control, psychological manipulation, and a warped interpretation of socialist ideals and religious ideals.
  • Rosa Parks' External Moral Framework, 1955, reflecting the racial segregation laws in the mid-20th-century United States, the civil rights movement's ethical stance against racial discrimination, and the broader societal push for equality and justice, juxtaposed against the prevailing racial prejudices and institutional racism of that era (see: Rosa Parks' Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Sophie Scholl's Prevailing Moral Order, 1943, which include the Nazi Germany's Moral System, a framework dominated by Nazi Ideology under Adolf Hitler, characterized by Totalitarian Control, State-Sponsored Propaganda, Racial Supremacy Theories, and the execution of the Holocaust including mass exterminations and the suppression of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. This system embodied extreme Nationalism, Anti-Semitism, and the perpetration of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.
  • Mahatma Gandhi's Prevailing Moral Order, 1930, encompassing the colonial Indian society's struggle for independence, the influence of Hindu ethics, and global non-violent resistance movements, set against the backdrop of the British colonial rule and its contrasting moral and ethical justifications (see: Mahatma Gandhi's Internal Moral Belief System).
  • John Stuart Mill's Prevailing Moral Order, 1859, which included Victorian Era societal norms, the liberal philosophical environment of 19th-century Britain, and evolving views on individual rights and utilitarian ethics, amidst a society grappling with conservative social mores and the ethics of an industrializing nation (see: John Stuart Mill's Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Galileo Galilei's Prevailing Moral Order, 1632, encompassing the Scientific Revolution's challenge of Empirical Observation over Church Dogma and Intellectual Orthodoxy (see: Galileo Galilei's Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Hildegard of Bingen's Prevailing Moral Order, 1150, which included the 12th-century European Christian context, characterized by a rigid Church Hierarchy and limited roles for women in religious life. (see: Hildegard of Bingen's Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Cleopatra's Prevailing Moral Order, 40BC, shaped by the political and cultural dynamics of Ptolemaic Egypt and the wider Hellenistic World, incorporating elements of Egyptian Religion, Greek Culture, and Roman Politics, amidst a period marked by political intrigue, Roman expansion, and shifting power dynamics (see: Cleopatra's Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Socrates' Prevailing Moral Order, 400BC, rooted in Ancient Athenian Society values, focusing on the pursuit of knowledge, ethical inquiry, and the concept of virtue as central to personal life and civic life, in contrast to the often authoritarian political practices and sophistic rhetoric of the time (see: Socrates' Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Confucius' Prevailing Moral Order, 500BC, which encompassed the Ancient Chinese Society ethical norms and social hierarchies of, emphasizing values such as filial piety, ritual propriety, and benevolence, contrasted with the prevalent feudal practices and tribal warfare (see: Confucius' Internal Moral Belief System).
  • Hammurabi's External Moral Order, 1754BC, reflective of the Ancient Mesopotamian context, particularly his comprehensive Hammurabi Code of Laws that laid out societal norms and ethical standards of that era, within a civilization often dealing with internal strife, class conflicts, and external invasions (see: Hammurabi's Internal Moral Belief System).
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • An Personal Moral Belief System.
  • An External Economic System (economic system), as opposed to personal economic system.
• See: Cultural Relativism, Social Norms, Legal System, Cultural Ethics, Global Ethics, Cross-Cultural Moral Perspectives.

---

---

References

2024

• (GPT-4, 2024)
  • "Imagine a vast, invisible tapestry woven from the collective beliefs, values, and principles that guide a society. This tapestry is the External Moral Order ... It's like a moral compass that's not inside you, but all around you."
  • Key points include its collective creation, dynamic nature, context-dependency, and its influence on individual behavior and societal laws. It's also noted for its role in both conflict and cohesion within societies.
  • Examples of External Moral Order include professional ethical codes, religious teachings, cultural norms, and international laws. Understanding this concept is essential for navigating social and ethical issues, appreciating cultural diversity, promoting social justice, and understanding ethical implications in various contexts.

---