Those who believe in the inevitable progress of man, forget that the twentieth century was the bloodiest, most destructive century in human history. The century's two world wars alone resulted in the deaths of at least 60 million people.
The 20th century was marked by an explosive convergence of ideological, technological, economic, geopolitical and sociopolitical forces, creating a highly volatile environment that led to unprecedented violence and devastation, while at the same time delivering the highest standard of living in history. This era demonstrated how technological advancements, in the absence of corresponding developments in legal and moral frameworks, can lead to massive human suffering.
While technology significantly enhanced the destructiveness of warfare during the 20th century, the deeper causes of this violence lay in the prevailing belief systems and moral frameworks. These frameworks, which include religious, philosophical, and cultural codes, are vital as they shape societal norms about what is deemed justifiable or unacceptable behavior, especially concerning the use of violence.
One of the pivotal roles in eroding these moral frameworks historically was played by propaganda in the form of newspapers, pamphlets, radios, TVs, and purpose made events. By dehumanizing perceived enemies, propaganda made extreme acts of violence more acceptable to the general public. Those same strategies are in use today. The following quote is from a leading candidate in the US presidential race in March of 2024. Note the dehumanizing of opponents and accusations that justify violence.
“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country, that lie and steal and cheat on elections and will do anything possible — they’ll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American dream.
The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within.”
History shows us that normalizing messages like this today may lead us back into repetitive cycles of violence in the future. We can and must do better than that.
The 20th century showcased a complex interplay between the manipulation of moral frameworks to justify violence, and the erosion of traditional moral restraints. Nationalism, patriotism, and religion were all exploited to rationalize conflicts and the horrors unleashed. These moral failures revealed that something about us humans was and is broken. We must seek a different, more effective way, to adopt and practice a set of shared moral frameworks that will reduce humanity's propensity for violence on a mass scale.
Today, there are even more powerful forms of propaganda in the form of personalized appeals based on our psychographic profiles. These profiles, used by social media platforms and other forms of media, can create agitation, break down social cohesion, and limit our information to echo chambers that reinforce the worst in ourselves.
The lessons we have learned from history, point to the critical need for a robust, adaptable, and universally respected moral framework to foster a more peaceful, understanding, empathetic and secure world in the next 100 years. Key insights from the past century include:
- Global Ethical Consensus: The absence of a broad consensus on ethical behavior in international relations often allowed for justifications of conflicts and atrocities through skewed moralities.
- Education and Moral Literacy: Education proved to be a powerful tool, capable of either propagating harmful ideologies or promoting human rights. It's essential for the cultivation of critical, empathetic global citizens.
- Technology and Moral Responsibility: The rapid pace of technological advancement often outstripped ethical regulations, leading to devastating consequences. It's crucial that the development and deployment of technology include adequate ethical considerations to prevent exacerbating violence and inequality.
Inclusive and Diverse Moral Dialogues: Narrow or exclusionary moral frameworks can lead to oppression and conflict. Many of the worst atrocities of the 20th century stemmed from a refusal to recognize the humanity and rights of all individuals.
Click to Enlarge - Transparency and Accountability: A lack of accountability for ethical norm violations and human rights abuses often resulted in impunity and repeated offenses.
- Adaptability to New Challenges: Applying static and outdated moral frameworks to new or evolving challenges proved inadequate and often failed.
By learning from these historical insights, we can strive for a future where moral frameworks not only guide actions but are also flexible enough to adapt to new challenges like the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. The above approach is a starting point that can help us build a global community that prioritizes peace, security, and mutual respect among all peoples.
We cannot properly understand the past, nor prepare for the future without considering the moral frameworks that were, and will be the lenses through which society views them.
*I use generative AI to assist in all my work.
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Kevin Benedict
Futurist at TCS
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***Full Disclosure: These are my personal opinions. No company is silly enough to claim them. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.
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