Article Title: Does surveillance make us morally better?
By: Emrys Westacott
Central Argument: Surveillance may make us do the right thing, but it does not make us morally better.
Morals are concerned with the righteous and idealistic actions of human beings. Morals may be good or bad. It comes naturally from a person's heart and not by outward provocation. If somebody makes us do the right thing by scaring us, then that is not our morals at work. We are just doing the right thing because we are scared. Morals are an important part of any person's life. It shows his beliefs and ideals, thus portraying his character. A morally upright person does the right thing because he believes in it and not because of some external influence. Surveillance may make us do the right thing, but it does not make us morally right.
In 2010 Anna Hazare, a people's rights activist, proposed that India pass the Lokpal or anti-corruption Bill. It was meant to expose widespread corruption in the government. The Lokpal bill was quite similar to the Right to Information Bill as it exposed government misconduct in front of the people. As a result of this many corrupt politicians in India quit their corrupt practices and resorted to legal methods. However this was because they were under 24 hour scrutiny by the people and the media. Many people thus thought that these ministers were honest and were doing the right thing for the welfare of the country. Being under surveillance did make these ministers and government officials do the right thing. However this did not make them morally right. This is because these ministers were and are corrupt. It is just that as they were under scrutiny they were being honest. The moment the surveillance will be removed, these ministers will resort to their old tactics. Thus being under surveillance did make them do the right thing, but it did not make them morally right.
Superstars all over the world have a double face. In front of the camera and fans they may act all the idealistic individual, however in reality they are completely different individuals. From Tiger Woods to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Salman Khan to Shoaib Akhtar all are double faced. Whenever they are under the surveillance of the public, they try to act the all so righteous individual. However as soon as they are alone they show their true face and get involve in captivities ranging from drug addiction, to sex scandal, to animal hunting, to match fixing and what not. They are no longer the role models that the public idealizes. However as soon as they see the public or media, they put their fake mask on. Fans idealize these superstars and look up to them. However they do not realize that their role-models are not as morally upright as they seem to be. Simply put, these superstars may feel that they are all so cool because so many people worship them for doing the right thing and performing great feats. But what they do not realize is that doing the right thing under surveillance may make them seem good, but it does not make them morally right.
By: Emrys Westacott
Central Argument: Surveillance may make us do the right thing, but it does not make us morally better.
Morals are concerned with the righteous and idealistic actions of human beings. Morals may be good or bad. It comes naturally from a person's heart and not by outward provocation. If somebody makes us do the right thing by scaring us, then that is not our morals at work. We are just doing the right thing because we are scared. Morals are an important part of any person's life. It shows his beliefs and ideals, thus portraying his character. A morally upright person does the right thing because he believes in it and not because of some external influence. Surveillance may make us do the right thing, but it does not make us morally right.
In 2010 Anna Hazare, a people's rights activist, proposed that India pass the Lokpal or anti-corruption Bill. It was meant to expose widespread corruption in the government. The Lokpal bill was quite similar to the Right to Information Bill as it exposed government misconduct in front of the people. As a result of this many corrupt politicians in India quit their corrupt practices and resorted to legal methods. However this was because they were under 24 hour scrutiny by the people and the media. Many people thus thought that these ministers were honest and were doing the right thing for the welfare of the country. Being under surveillance did make these ministers and government officials do the right thing. However this did not make them morally right. This is because these ministers were and are corrupt. It is just that as they were under scrutiny they were being honest. The moment the surveillance will be removed, these ministers will resort to their old tactics. Thus being under surveillance did make them do the right thing, but it did not make them morally right.
Superstars all over the world have a double face. In front of the camera and fans they may act all the idealistic individual, however in reality they are completely different individuals. From Tiger Woods to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Salman Khan to Shoaib Akhtar all are double faced. Whenever they are under the surveillance of the public, they try to act the all so righteous individual. However as soon as they are alone they show their true face and get involve in captivities ranging from drug addiction, to sex scandal, to animal hunting, to match fixing and what not. They are no longer the role models that the public idealizes. However as soon as they see the public or media, they put their fake mask on. Fans idealize these superstars and look up to them. However they do not realize that their role-models are not as morally upright as they seem to be. Simply put, these superstars may feel that they are all so cool because so many people worship them for doing the right thing and performing great feats. But what they do not realize is that doing the right thing under surveillance may make them seem good, but it does not make them morally right.
I once knew a guy who was always looking for shortcuts in life. He tried to search for the easy way in everything. In all the tests and assignments he used to cheat and get good grades. Once during a test, the teacher became strict and started observing closely whether anybody was cheating or not. The guy could not cheat and thus got bad marks in the test. After that I thought he would start studying but he again started cheating from the next test. I was disappointed. I thought over it long and realized that the teachers may think that he is an honest student because he never gets caught cheating in front of them. But their is a thing known as self consciousness which will always hurt him and pinch him. He may do the right thing under surveillance but that does not make him morally right.
In life we face several opportunities where we can succeed by using unfair means. But many times, when somebody is looking, we have to do the right thing. Many people do the right thing not because they want to, but because somebody else is watching. This however does not make him or her morally right. Doing the right thing under surveillance does not make anybody morally right. It only presents a false outward projection of you as being a person who you in reality are not.
In life we face several opportunities where we can succeed by using unfair means. But many times, when somebody is looking, we have to do the right thing. Many people do the right thing not because they want to, but because somebody else is watching. This however does not make him or her morally right. Doing the right thing under surveillance does not make anybody morally right. It only presents a false outward projection of you as being a person who you in reality are not.
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