Moral breakdown

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Moral breakdown is a phenomenon in which a major degradation or complete loss of moral values takes place within a particular society. The abruptness of such kind of degradation may vary depending on the situation and the events that take place within the given society over a certain time. Moral Breakdown may be caused by the changes in the political and/or cultural changes of the society, conflict or a natural disaster.

Moral Breakdown and Natural Disasters

A critical loss of moral or ethical values may take place during or past a major cataclysm which strikes a given society. One of the most known examples of moral breakdown originating from natural disasters took place during the epidemic of Black Death in Europe (1347–1350). The medieval society faced with the prospect of most certainly dying in a short time often chose to live its life to the fullest for as long as it could. Cases of heavy drinking, eating, adultery and other acts which were unethical/sinful to the contemporary Christian society took place. The people lost trust in the church and God since neither could provide a cure or safety from the pestilence. ^[1]

Moral Breakdown and Conflicts

According to Catholic Herald (1969) ^[2] during the war in Vietnam the multiple atrocities were committed on both sides of the conflict. Where as the news report reads violence neither reduces nor nulls violence, as well as the fact that violence breeds violence. Conflicts strongly increase the degradation of ethical values as in the instance of the massacre at pikville committed by the US army being silenced by the news of the first landing on the moon. In this particular instance one can see the Moral Breakdown caused by war not only within the ranks of the army, but also in the society.

Moral Breakdown and Political/ Cultural changes

During major political or cultural changes such as the modern liberalism in Germany in the 1920s ^[3] one can see a great deterioration of moral values. The economic and political situation of Germany after the end of World War I led many to live in near poverty. The conclusion is, that a great shift in the wealth of people, both thrown at the bottom and on the top of the social hierarchy carries a degree of moral breakdown.

Societal collapse

Historians believe societal collapse and the overall disintegration of society from external or internal factors may exacerbate social discord and lead to a degradation of morality. Examples of such rising levels of moral breakdown occur when resources are dwindling at an unsustainable level compared to the overall influx of newer populations. This, as evidenced from ancient Rome and the ancient Mayans, creates a climate of hypercompetitive behavior between the various classes, creating a climate of plutocracy or extreme violence as manifested through Roman Gladiator shows and bizarre rituals that were previously viewed as hedonistic during the early stages of the society. As resources dwindle from economic decline, societies in decline are more focused on curbing the exhaustion of physical resources (food, water, infrastructure) and ignore the enforcement of social capital among the general public to conserve such physical resources.

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