Mostafa Soleimani's essay “The Poverty and Inefficacy of Moral Education”

The Poverty and Inefficacy of Moral Education

Mostafa Soleimani

Graduate of Moral Philosophy

[email protected]

*Introduction

In dictionaries, "faqr" (poverty) has been defined as a hole, but this word has a more beautiful and comprehensive interpretation among the Arabs. Arabs do not call every hole "faqr." They use the word "faqr" when holes are created in a regular, consecutive sequence somewhere; and it is precisely on this basis that they have named the backbone the "faqarat" column (spinal column).

One poverty can give rise to a column of poverties. Social poverty produces political poverty. Scientific poverty begets cultural poverty, and emotional poverty can also engender social poverty. With the emergence of one poverty, a chain of poverties appears in succession. But among these, economic poverty is one of the most fundamental and anomalous types of poverty, which can cause various damages at different levels.

To explain economic poverty and its relationship with other anomalies, it seems that providing a simple definition of poverty and determining its boundaries would be helpful in advancing the discussion.

*The Visible and Hidden Layers of Poverty

Poverty, in absolute terms, means the insufficient fulfillment of basic human needs[1]. Of course, basic needs vary depending on personal, social, temporal, and spatial differences among individuals, but indicators can be considered to determine its general scope; hence, material needs can be encompassed in three general categories: nutrition, shelter, and health.

And in a more detailed categorization, it can be expanded to include the need for food, clothing, housing, healthcare and treatment, sports, transportation, leisure time, family formation, and education.

On the other hand, according to some criteria, poverty cannot be considered solely as the absence of minimal facilities. The degree of poverty called relative poverty describes a poverty that has a subjective aspect. This means that an individual finds themselves poor in comparison with more affluent individuals. In such circumstances, the subjective aspect of poverty prevails over its objective and external manifestation[2] . Yet, with all this, upon closer examination, it becomes quite clear that the concepts of absolute and relative poverty are insufficient for determining the degree of poverty. A minimal and defined level of income or facilities can still be inadequate for meeting an individual's basic needs, and furthermore, the minimal levels of poverty are constantly changing in accordance with the growing and changing norms of society; therefore, perhaps the least erroneous way to diagnose the existence or absence of absolute or relative poverty in a society is to examine the visible and hidden social layers of that society[3] .

*The Skewed Cycle of Poverty

There is no doubt that just as moral predicaments can bring about economic poverty, economic poverty can also pave the way for the emergence of certain moral harms. Much research has proven the truth of this proposition that economic poverty is one of the factors causing immorality, norm-breaking, and delinquency. The psychological consequences of economic poverty are so serious that they prevent morality-based education from being effective on the individual afflicted by poverty, and it is for this reason that it is severely damaging.

*The Mirror of Society's Moral Deviations

The damages resulting from economic poverty can be considered at two levels:

a) The negative effects of poverty on an individual's behavior and conduct;

b) The consequences of poverty on intellectual and doctrinal foundations.

And precisely on this basis, in examining the origin of the moral deviations and perversions of those afflicted by economic poverty, two origins can be considered:

One) Deviance for the purpose of securing a livelihood and compensating for material deficiencies;

Two) Moral deviations for the purpose of compensating for lost self-esteem or imposed humiliation.

It is obvious that the more widespread economic poverty is in a society, the more educational disorders will inevitably exist within that society, and consequently, the educational system will grapple with greater difficulties in resolving them. Nevertheless, the behavioral actions of the poor (the behavioral outcomes of poverty) regarding their affliction with social and educational abnormalities cannot be considered absolutely uniform, although in most cases, these actions represent the many damages wrought at various educational levels.

* Behavioral Deviance; The Seed and Fruit of Poverty

Naturally, to explain the correlation between poverty and educational disorders, one must, in addition to explaining the concept of poverty, also analyze the concept of educational disorder. If educational disorders are defined as deviation and deviance from a norm, then by analyzing the characteristics of deviant behaviors, the concept of educational disorders and, consequently, their connection to economic poverty can be better understood.

Deviant behaviors have been defined and explained in four ways:

A) In this definition, deviance is a relative matter; because its content is, in a way, localized to the specific social and cultural context of the region where the deviance occurred. In simpler terms, it includes behaviors that violate the normative rules, agreements, and expectations of a particular social system. These behaviors lead to the violation of standard behaviors and are aberrant and pathological (Calhaun, carig, Light, Keller, sociology, 1994, p 155).

B) Deviance is a behavior whose probability of occurrence is very low = rare behaviors; this definition is not highly regarded by sociologists; because a behavior's divergence from standard behavior cannot necessarily be defined as deviance[4].

C) Deviance is the very behaviors of the mentally ill and dangerous people; this definition lacks a correct basis and concept. Because it is not always the case that the mentally ill (unhealthy individuals) exhibit deviant behaviors. Research proves that deviant behaviors can also occur from individuals who do not suffer from psychological problems.

D) Deviance is an anti-value behavior; in this definition, a society's values determine whether a behavior appears deviant or not. And since values are often determined by the beneficiary group and those in power, most anti-value behaviors are fundamentally not abnormal.

However, since these definitions are not sufficiently comprehensive and exclusive, some sociologists have proposed other approaches for explaining deviant behaviors:

Paying attention to the scope of deviant behaviors, the cause of people's deviance, and how society deals with deviant individuals are examples of these proposals (Kendall, Diana, sociology in our time, 1999, p 167).

* The Phenomena of Poverty and Moral Deviations

In the phenomenology of the phenomena of poverty and moral deviations, two analyses can be reached:

A) That poverty stems from the base traits and meager nature of certain individuals; in this explanation, moral deviations are considered specific to a particular stratum. For example, in some research, in a completely hasty manner, by establishing a superficial relationship between crimes and the economic level of criminals, it is proven that the majority of deviations are committed by the poor[5].

B) In this explanation, poverty is presented as a general predicament. In this way, the deeper dimensions of poverty are examined. The activities of organizations and institutions, as well as social relations and the overall framework of society, are scrutinized, and time is spent finding the precise points of damage and fault.

In the second analysis, poverty, as a macro-level issue, cannot be directly considered a cause of moral deviations. It may correlate with deviations, but it is not necessarily their cause, for the wealthy and owners of capital can also exhibit major deviances and perversions[6].

*Poverty from Three Perspectives!

Poverty can be examined from three viewpoints:

1_ The Cultural Perspective: This viewpoint speaks of a subculture. In this way, traits and characteristics are attributed to the poor, by virtue of which they are deemed deserving of falling prey to certain deviations. This characteristic is also described as the "correspondence between crime and social class"[7].

In the next step, sociologists and cultural theorists have considered the acquisition of these traits to stem from two problems:

a. The Culture of Poverty View: In this definition, deviations arise from the familial, behavioral, attitudinal, and personality traits of the poor, which are transmitted from generation to generation in the form of specific behavioral patterns. The adaptation of the poor to these patterns and conditions is cited as the factor sustaining this subculture[8].

b. The Defective Character View: In this definition, poverty is the natural and predictable result of individual deficiencies. When passion, ability, motivation, and work ethic are absent, poverty will gradually emerge. In this view, it is the defective character and flawed lifestyle of the poor that brings poverty upon them. The poor are themselves responsible for the abnormal situation they have created, and others have no duty in this regard[9].

These two views have simultaneously proposed solutions for resolving these problems:

The first view considers the solution to eradicating poverty to lie in blaming and transforming the morals of the poor. Meaning that if the poor themselves or their way of life is destroyed, the culture and pattern of poverty will also vanish.

The second view describes the solution as changing the conditions, character, and methods of the poor. Meaning that by educating the poor, they can be rescued from the conditions and situations imposed upon them, and poverty and misery can be distanced from them.

2_ The Situational Perspective: This view considers poverty to be the result of forces beyond the control of poor individuals, and the product of certain situations being imposed upon them. It addresses how poverty is the result of the disproportionate distribution of resources in society and will only disappear when inequalities are eliminated and the relative position of the poor in society changes.

Poverty from the situational perspective has also been analyzed in two forms:

a. Conflict Theory: This view considers poverty to be caused by an exploitative and unjust system and the result of the unequal distribution of power, believing that it is the unjust system that divides society into upper and lower classes and spreads poverty. The solution this view proposes for the destruction of poverty is the transfer of power and resources and the elimination of inequality[10].

b. Merton's Theory: This view relates poverty to the value system of society and believes that poverty arises from structural limitations imposed on the poor class of society, which gradually become their internalized values. In this view, since the poor are unable to change the structures and patterns of society, they are forced to adapt to them, and as a result, become poorer day by day. The solution this view offers for eliminating poverty is the reform of restrictive social structures[11].

3_ The Relational Perspective: This perspective is a synthesis of the two preceding theories. That is, it considers poverty to be caused both by internal matters and individual human actions, and by external matters and the attitudes of others. According to this view, society is impoverishing[12].

And finally...

Although some studies exist that documentarily prove that "poverty is not a direct cause of crime," "crimes are a function of opportunity, not of being poor or rich," and that "poverty only reinforces the predisposition to delinquency," other studies show that "the relationship between poverty and deviance is direct" and "unemployment is a cause of poverty, and poverty is a cause of crime." Yet other evidence proves that "poverty alone does not harm society; rather, it is the rise in expectations and the feeling of need that plunges individuals into inner conflict and consequently leads them to deviance"[13].

Although poverty can lead to the spread of addiction, theft, suicide, prostitution, administrative corruption, and lying, and can fuel many deviations, understanding the multidimensional and complex reality of poverty urgently requires that all its dimensions be examined.

Despite the many charitable efforts undertaken for the poor and the eradication of poverty, poverty remains a global issue, and despite regulations such as human rights, a severe polarization between rich and poor still exists worldwide, and the persistence of deprivation recreates misery anew.

Nevertheless, it seems that alongside fundamental global issues such as warmongering, consumerism, and the politics of domination, a critical examination of the politics of poverty could offer a more suitable approach for the moral analysis of poverty. In a situation where many consider poverty to be a handpicked norm, the best solution for eliminating poverty is probably to examine its political foundations in the real world[14].

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[1] Roach, Jack L., The Sociology of Poverty, 1354, p. 15

[2] See. Statistical Center of Iran, 1377

[3] See. Giddens, Anthony, Sociology, Tehran, 1378, p. 252

[4] Gould, Julius; Kolb, William L., A Dictionary of the Social Sciences, 1376, p. 345

[5] See. Collection of Articles on Poverty in Iran, p. 280

[6] See. Collection of Articles on Poverty in Iran, p. 281

[7] Afrough, Emad, A Theoretical Perspective on Class Analysis and Development, 1379, p. 69

[8] Ibid., p. 70

[9] Ibid., p. 72

[10] Ibid., p. 72

[11] Ibid., p. 72

[12] Ibid., pp. 74 and 75

[13] Keynia, Mehdi, Fundamentals of Criminology, 1369, Vol. 2, pp. 196-198; Vold, George et al., Theoretical Criminology, 1380, pp. 105, 156-157, 158, and 171

[14] See. William Galston, Peter Hoffenberg, the book "Poverty and Morality"

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