Organizational, National, and State Morals (Akhlak)

In language, "morals" comes from the Arabic word "khuluq" which means behavior or character.  Whereas in terms, morals refer to the system of moral and ethical values that regulate a person's behavior in living everyday life. includes aspects such as honesty, loyalty, compassion, good attitude towards others and others.

   Morals according to famous figures can be interpreted differently but have almost the same meaning, for example as follows:

- Aristotle; In ancient Greek philosophy, Aristotle put forward the concept of ethics and morals. For him, morals are good habits that shape a person's character, and the goal of life is to achieve happiness through a good and moral life.

- Immanuel Kant; This German philosopher emphasized the importance of actions stemming from moral obligation. For Kant, morality lies in good intentions and actions that conform to universal moral obligations.

Why should we be moral?

    Of course, being moral will build harmonious relationships with other people or groups, create a positive environment that can certainly strengthen moral values in society itself. So by being moral, we can develop each human being into a person who is honest, responsible, and cares about the common good in order to build a developed society.

Organization

What is an organization?

    An organization is a structured entity, which can consist of individuals or groups that have a common goal or mission that is achieved through cooperation within the organization itself.

    Organizations have various definitions, here are organizations according to some famous figures:
    -Max Weber: Sees the organization as an entity that has a hierarchical structure, with clearly defined authorities and rules.
    -Chester Barnard: Sees an organization as a social system that includes cooperation between individuals to achieve a common goal.

Do we need morals in organization?

    If we already know what the benefits are if we have morals by reading the text above, of course we will be very sure that in organizing it is very necessary to be accompanied by morals, because if we have morals, we can create a healthy, honest, transparent organizational environment, or other languages, and of course we will trust one another because having morals will definitely cause honesty in each member of the organization and with this mutual trust, a developed organization will be created because there is no fraud in the organization.

    Then what are the impacts if we can be moral in the organization:
The impact is of course that all members will trust each other, increase commitment towards a common goal, further improve work ethic, and will certainly make the organization's reputation more respected in the national or international arena.

Nation

What is nation?

    It is a concept that refers to the identity of a group of people who share a common culture, history, language and values. Nationhood involves a sense of solidarity and identification with a community that is recognized as a national entity. So in essence, nationhood is the identity of a nation based on the commonalities of its people.

Nationhood according to famous figures:
-Ernest Renan: In his essay "What is a Nation?" (1882), Renan says that nationhood is not based solely on racial or linguistic factors, but rather on a shared loyalty and commitment to shared moral and historical values.

-Anthony D. Smith Focus on the concept of ethnocentrism and the emphasis on cultural elements, such as language, religion, and symbols, as the foundation of national identity.

     Do we need morality in our nation?

    Of course we do, because being ethical will support social and economic development, strengthen unity, tolerance, and cooperation among community members, and create an equitable and sustainable society and country.

    So what happens if we do not have morals in our nation?

    Of course, there can be various negative consequences that can affect the stability and welfare of society. More details are as follows:
-Social disharmony
  Unethical or immoral actions can damage relationships between individuals and groups.
-Political instability: Poor morals can create acts of abuse of power such as corruption, collusion, and nepotism, which in turn can lead to a poor view of the government.
-Inequality and injustice
-Development setbacks: the absence of morals can cause stagnation in development such as corruption of aid funds to the community for example.

State

What is a state?

    It is the state of an area governed by a legitimate government, which of course involves a political system, laws and government structures to manage the interests of a complex society.

   State can be defined in various ways by various scholars, here is a brief description:
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Expressed the view that a state involves a social agreement among all members of society to form a "general will" that reflects the common interest.
-Thomas Hobbes: Saw the state as a social contract in which individuals are willing to give up some of their individual rights to create a government that can provide security and maintain order.
-John Locke: Emphasized the concept of human rights and separation of powers as the foundation of a just state. Locke argued that the state exists to protect the rights of individuals.
-Max Weber: Sees the state as an entity that has a monopoly on physical power, which is recognized by society.

Do we need morality in the state?

    Having morals is certainly very important in the context of the state. Good ethics or morals certainly contribute to the welfare of society as a whole. Here is a more detailed description of the importance of morality in the state:
    -Social stability: Good morals help to create a stable and harmonious social environment. Honesty, justice and responsibility play an important role in maintaining balance and order in a society.
    -Public Trust: A government with good morals and ethics will certainly create a good view or trust from its people. A government with good morals is very important for the creation of a society that trusts the government so that a fair, prosperous and civilized country is created.
    -Equality: Good morals can support the principles of justice and equality in governance. This helps prevent discrimination and inequality that can be detrimental to a large section of society.

   

 So, good morals are not only an individual responsibility, but also a key factor in shaping and maintaining the well-being of a country.

What happens if we don't have good morals in a country?

    Of course, it is not much different from the nation, if we do not have morals in the state, it will create social injustice, public distrust of the government and other communities or groups of people, there will also be acts of corruption, collusion and nepotism in the government and in the private sector, then it will create setbacks in infrastructure development or the welfare of the community itself.

    The conclusion of the text is that morals have a very important role in various contexts of life, such as in daily life, organization, nation, and state. The definition of morals includes moral and ethical values that guide individual behavior.
    Figures such as Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Max Weber made unique contributions to the understanding of the concept of morals. In general, morals are seen as the key to forming good character, achieving happiness, and maintaining actions that are in accordance with moral obligations.

    In the context of organization, nation, and state, the existence of morals is considered important. Good morals support harmony in social relations, build a positive environment, increase trust, and create a just and developed society. Conversely, a lack of morals can result in negative consequences, such as social instability, lack of trust, and setbacks in development. Therefore, it is important for individuals and society to understand and apply moral values in various aspects of life.

Tanaya Zattira_20230510234_Class K_AIK 1 Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta