The Decline of Morality in The Western World From Pre-Enlightenment to Post-Truth Implications

Abstract

In light of moral uncertainties, this paper studies the transformation of Western morality and its social implications from perpetual certitude to post-truth ramifications. By tracing the philosophical moral thought, morality was once grounded in religious teachings. However, with the Enlightenment skepticism and rejection of religion, moral understandings were driven by individual rationalism. The moral decline occurred as a result of dismissing moral universality in favor of man, leading to moral autonomy, relativism, and pluralism. This decline is reflected in the social cultural and legal changes. While individualism has affected social bounds and asserts isolation; consumerism and technology has enforced materialistic values, loss of meaning, and uncertainties. Therefore. This work proposes a reorientation toward religious morality, asserting moral cohesion and social stability both rooted in the certainty and clarity of morality