Ethical Hypotheses Requiring Testing
Dialogues
“And mankind was, above all else, most disputatious.” (Quran, Surah Al-Kahf, Verse 54)
Ethical hypotheses, in this article, refer to “ethical” ideas and proposals that accept both truth and falsehood, and which sometimes require repeated testing to verify their logic, validity, or correspondence with reality. I believe that certain hypotheses are often proposed by the minds of the general public regarding ethical issues that have been, and remain, contentious. These are not accepted by a rational person, especially one who uses their intellect to verify the accuracy, correctness, and truthfulness of what is happening around them in their surrounding environment. Among what I consider to be hypotheses rather than accepted ethical assumptions in today’s turbulent world, I mention the following:
Daily News Bulletin
Agricultural
Digital Newspaper Archive
- The Morally Corrupt and Divine Testing: I believe that only the righteous person is tested and tried to strengthen their faith, not the morally corrupt individual. This is due to the superior nature of the righteous and the flawed nature of the corrupt. The essence of a righteous person is pure, and their soul is receptive to planting and harvesting good moral fruit.
As for the person of corrupt nature, their fundamental inner core is inherently corrupt. Therefore, the life disasters that sometimes befall them cannot be interpreted as divine tests; rather, they may be punishments and retribution for their evil deeds.
- Good Always Prevails Over Evil: I believe that the earth we walk on is nearly filled with the bodies of innocent victims. If good always prevailed over evil, I would see the bodies of the wicked overflowing within the earth and upon its surface. Good may always prevail over evil only if the righteous and people of goodness possess the actual power to defeat evil.
- A Kind Heart Is Always Rewarded: Optional kindness of heart can yield positive human relationships that are psychologically rewarding for all parties. However, it is difficult to always confirm this ethical hypothesis. One need only reflect on the outcomes of many known for their kind hearts, and observe their ordinary fates (exploitation, contempt, and lack of appreciation).
- The Envious and Resentful Are Tamed by Kind Treatment: Some believe that if they treat the envious and resentful person with kindness, politeness, and appropriate tolerance, this ethical behavior will reduce their envy and resentment toward them, or that such a person will automatically refrain from harming them. This is an overly idealistic ethical hypothesis that originates only from the minds of the psychologically sound and morally upright, and does not align with the turbulent reality of human nature. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.
A Kuwaiti Writer
