Ethics, Morals, and Morality for the Safety of the Indonesian Nation and State
Author, Jacob Ereste
Freelance Journalist
Ethics is the concept of rules, customs, and traditions for good conduct that adhere to a proper social order and do not violate generally accepted norms. Therefore, if someone ignores them, they can be considered—or even called—uncivilized. They violate proper manners and social etiquette. This means that someone who lacks ethics can not only lose their sense of shame, but also lose their self-respect and the respect of others. In today’s youth’s terms, such a person has lost all sense of shame.
For example, there are people who have been constantly criticized and slandered for most of their lives due to their deceitful actions, filled not only with lies but also with fraud and the theft of state funds earned from the sweat of the people.
Truly, how unfortunate is the fate of this official who was cursed because of his behavior and actions while in power, acting arbitrarily to vent his animalistic and furious lusts, to the point of deserving condemnation by many, if not all, of the people, so that he receives the just reward for his heinous actions.
Such is the result of a lack of ethics in living life in any profession or type of work. Therefore, the king of hell for the person concerned has become a kind of consensus to be inflicted upon him, because the punishment and suffering resulting from his actions have been heard as far as the heavens from the bowels of the earth, and it is natural and appropriate to condemn his depraved behavior.
The essence of ethics as a guide to good behavior applies only to humans. Therefore, those who disregard ethics can be called animals or wild beasts. Because only humans can distinguish between good behavior and bad behavior. And even standards of good behavior for humans are categorized as subtle, while there are also ethics that are coarse in their ethical levels. Good ethics for humans will significantly determine the moral values each person possesses. Ethics and morals can be said to be the pillars that uphold noble morals, enabling humans to maintain their role as khalifatullah—God’s representatives—on earth.
This means that ethics are a guideline for humans—without exception—to behave well, politely, responsibly, and respectfully toward others—without discrimination. This can create harmonious relationships with all parties, including ethics in professions, fields of work, and ethics towards nature.
This is how ethics is so important, because even an official—or even the most absolute ruler—must and remains worthy and obligated to possess ethics, except for those who are authoritarian, despotic, and indeed cruel. Ethics are necessary for anyone who still wishes to be considered human by behaving well and avoiding bad and reprehensible behavior in the eyes of the public.
Therefore, in a broader context, it is often referred to as social ethics, political ethics, economic ethics, environmental ethics, and legal ethics, which must not be violated because there is a general agreement to respect the prevailing ethics that have been passed down from one generation to the next, and which must not be disregarded by anyone, especially officials in this country.
Ultimately, ethics will determine the upholding of human morals and noble character, as framed by intelligent spiritual awareness and understanding, not arrogance and arrogance relying on intellectual intelligence. The consequences of arrogance and intellectual arrogance have too often been proven to be the root of destruction in our country. Therefore, a movement to awaken spiritual awareness is crucial and necessary to repair and rebuild the Indonesian nation and state, which are threatened with collapse.**
Saketi, November 15, 2025
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