By Ariem V. Cinco
THERE seems a relentless tug-of-war for moral high ground between opposing camps, each acting as though they possess the superior moral authority to dictate the discourse surrounding the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD). The unending bickering with “unfriend me” or “block me” has festooned social media platforms, turning the atmosphere more hostile.
Everyone is fixated on the recent developments relative to the arrest of Duterte and the cyberworld has blasted cacophonies that uncover the bothersome state of our nation. A supposedly thoughtful discourse has turned into a spectacle of ad hominem attacks and moral posturing. These highly emotional exchanges have not only inundated online spaces but have become the default mode of recent political engagement.
The polarized response to Duterte's arrest reveals a deep societal failure in the Philippines: our incapacity to detach policy criticism from personal denigration. Some supporters rally with uncompromising loyalty regardless of substantive concerns, while some critics seize the opportunity to attack the person instead of systematically examining the legal and ethical questions at hand. [I say “some” because there are those who, despite the chaotic atmosphere, remain level-headed and cordial]. However, both approaches reflect an egocentric worldview where political identity trumps consistent moral reasoning.
Speaking of morality, which everyone harps to uphold, it must be embedded in principles that are consistent, objective, and universally applicable, rather than being influenced by subjective and aesthetic considerations. Friedrich Nietzsche once poignantly opined, "If you kill a cockroach, you're a hero; if you kill a butterfly, you are evil." This statement underscores the subjective nature of moral judgments when they are based on superficial criteria.
However, we also cannot deny that our inclination toward egocentrism significantly compounds this problem. Viewing moral questions primarily through the lens of our own interests, biases, and perspectives, we inevitably develop inconsistent ethical frameworks. Egocentrism leads us to judge similar actions differently depending on whether they benefit our personal position or align with our preexisting biases. This self-centered approach to morality creates a dangerous relativism where principles become supple tools of convenience rather than steadfast guides for our behavior.
In the context of Philippine politics today, this inconsistency in the application of moral standards is glaringly evident. For instance, if we condemn extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the war on drugs, we must also rebuke both the drug menace itself and the killings of innocent victims caught in the crossfire with equal passion. Selective outrage driven by egocentric politics undermines the credibility of moral stands and proliferates a cycle of injustice. When we allow our political affiliations and leanings to determine which injustices merit our ire, we forsake moral consistency for blind loyalty.
Our pursuit of truly consistent moral principles requires self-abnegation or breaking our egocentric boundaries, even if it is painful. It demands that we evaluate our actions and policies based on their adherence to universal ethical standards rather than their alignment with our personal interests or political biases. This more objective approach to morality asks us to scrutinize our own positions with the same rigor we apply to our opponents' stances.
Inconsistent moral and political stands not only weakens our arguments but also diminishes the quality of discussions, and erodes the cornerstones of justice and fairness in society. To truly uphold morality, we must apply our principles uniformly, regardless of who is involved or what is at stake. Only by recognizing and overcoming our egocentric biases can we build a society that is just, equitable, and grounded in universal values rather than personal convenience.
Let’s discuss intelligently and emphatically. We should not fight with one another. After all, everyone cries for a better Philippines, unless some cry crocodile tears.
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Ariem V. Cinco is the administrative officer V at the Department of Education (DepEd)-Eastern Visayas Regional Office in Palo, Leyte.