Protecting individual identity and diversity in a united world: a new basis in fundamental ethical theory

Abstract

The issues of safeguarding individual identity and promoting a flourishing, unified world community are profoundly interlinked, with one critical nexus lying in the question of how humans should act towards each other, how they can possibly trust others different from themselves. This is a fundamental moral question. This paper proposes a new moral framework that addresses these issues. The proposed principle focuses on intentional choice in accordance with stated objective criteria of good and evil. The criteria themselves are universal: the good aims to benefit all without exception, whilst the evil aims to harm even a single innocent. As a principle of willed action, there is no inconsistency with the fact that the imperfect world may prevent achievement of the goal of the good choice, and may bring about the circumstance one is trying to avoid in rejecting the evil choice. But these criteria provide concrete guidance: in personal living, in relating within and amongst groups, and in designing laws and social systems. Also, in a world that practised such an ethic, personal identity, security, and belonging are enhanced for each individual by their trust in the universal care practised by others. This paper explores how the goodness principle works in practice to fulfil this promise.