In an exclusive interview, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor R.Darikhuu, a distinguished advisory professor and doctor from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the School of Science at the National University of Mongolia (NUM). With her extensive expertise, she offered profound insights into the current state of social ethics and shared her thoughtful perspectives on how we can foster a more ethical society.
There are ethical codes and guidelines for professions such as doctors, journalists, and politicians. However, it seems that ethics is often discussed only at the level of specific professions or fields, but not in relation to society or the general public. Some even argue that there is no such thing as social ethics.
Every profession has its own characteristics, and there are ethical guidelines specific to those characteristics. These form a part of social ethics. On the other hand, values like being humane, just, responsible, cooperative, and wise are common principles of social ethics. If these principles are applied in our lives and actions, society, family, and organizations can be relatively stable, united, and successful. The failure to understand this, or even the denial and distortion of these values, leads to ethical failures and degradation. For example, why is domestic violence and divorce increasing? This is linked to a poor understanding of family ethical principles and values. When discussing human rights, we must also pay attention to the ethical responsibilities that accompany those rights. Only when the duties of ethics and human rights complement each other can an individual’s life and social relations be truly positive. Social ethics is a broad concept. In short, it is the foundation for the stability and development of society.
There are many examples of ethical failures in our country. However, no one takes responsibility for their inappropriate actions.
Avoiding responsibility is connected to the ethical condition of society and individual conscience. In particular, there is a lack of understanding of the value and importance of ethical responsibility. Ethical responsibility is just as important as legal responsibility. To make this clear to the public, awareness-raising efforts are necessary. When people realize their ethical responsibility, it can bring significant progress to both individual and social development. The scope and harm of ethical failure are relatively small and are usually seen in everyday interactions, which are easier to understand and correct. However, when ethical decline and deterioration occur, they have far-reaching negative effects and cause various distortions in society. For example, when a few officials amass wealth through corruption, it diverts funds away from urgent issues like health care and education, causing severe harm to citizens’ quality of life and delaying national development.
Have you recently studied the current state of social ethics?
There has been some level of research conducted on this topic. For instance, in a series of sociological surveys conducted between 1991 and 1994 by the Institute of Philosophy, Sociology, and Law at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, public opinions on the state of social ethics were explored among 1,140 to 1,340 citizens. In a 2010 expert survey on “The Moral Development of Mongols and the Social Factors Affecting It”, participants expressed concerns such as “the moral awareness of the Mongolian people is changing rapidly, deteriorating, and becoming distorted; crimes that were previously unheard of are increasing, and people are becoming more violent and cruel; respect for elders is diminishing, and the system of accountability is breaking down,” adding that “the negative aspects are overwhelming,” “positive changes are rare,” and “negative changes are at 70 percent”. In a 2015 sociological survey conducted by the Otgontenger University, respondents pointed out that they were most concerned about issues like air pollution in the capital city, traffic congestion, the deterioration of social ethics, and the corruption in government leadership.
Furthermore, in a 2019 survey on “Mongolian Values” conducted by the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture, 53.5 percent of respondents stated that social ethical awareness in Mongolia was in decline. In the same expert survey on “The Moral Development of Mongols and the Social Factors Affecting It”, participants noted that “moral deficiencies are more apparent among lower social classes and youth. Ethical decline is more pronounced among government officials, MPs, and people in the political and business sectors. In contrast, negative ethical phenomena are relatively rare among herders who preserve traditional nomadic culture.” While such research exists, it is insufficient and needs to be expanded and deepened.
Why is there not enough research on this issue? Do decision-makers or research institutions not pay enough attention to it?
Social ethics requires interdisciplinary research, which is why there is often a significant gap in understanding among researchers. It is necessary to engage in professional discussions to resolve these differences in understanding. Various research institutes, university professors, and scholars are studying aspects of social ethics, but their cooperation is lacking. The discussions typically happen only within a particular institution or research center, rather than in a broader, interdisciplinary context.
Another reason for the limited research is that, in our government policies, there are only declarative statements about the importance of social ethics. There is no mention of how to improve the value and significance of social ethics. As a result, there is little emphasis on research in this area. Research is often treated as the personal work of a few researchers or faculty members, driven by their own interests. The results of these studies are not taken seriously, and relevant authorities or officials do not pay much attention to incorporating these findings into public policy or decision-making.
THE UNFAIR ONES ARE LIVING WELL, SO WHY SHOULD WE BE HONEST?
Have you compared the results of the research conducted between 1991 and 1994 with the current situation? What key changes are most noticeable?
The results of the surveys are generally similar. There has not been significant progress in social ethics. For example, in the surveys conducted by the Otgontenger University in 2015, the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture in 2019, and the work of Professor G.Tumennast from the Sociology Department of NUM, it was noted that there is widespread moral decline in our society, and this is seen as a sign of a turbulent time. However, in the research by Honored Teacher B.Galindev, it was also mentioned that alongside the negative phenomena in social ethics, there is a growing positive trend in individual values such as tolerance and respect for human rights.
What do you think are the main factors contributing to the moral decline in Mongolia?
The moral degradation in Mongolia should be viewed as equally significant as the economic or governance crises, and urgent efforts are needed to address and correct it. The main causes of this decline can be linked to several factors such as the education system, poverty, unemployment, and corrupt politics.
However, the most critical issue is the breakdown of the social ethics education system. Moral education and upbringing should start from the prenatal stage and continue through early childhood education. Humans are both biological and social beings. Ethical education is the process that transforms a human from a mere biological creature into a social being. Just as we focus on developing our physical and intellectual abilities, we must also pay attention to the development of social ethics. Some of our students ask, “The dishonest ones are getting rich and living well. So, should we still be honest?” This kind of thinking should not be encouraged. Such students clearly do not understand the essence of justice. It is important to teach children from a young age that dishonest behavior will eventually be exposed.
The digital environment, which is an uncontrollable space, seems to have a huge negative impact on social ethics. Do you see any ways to address this issue?
There should be ethical guidelines for online activities. Since there is no understanding of digital ethics, children, young people, and even adults are becoming victims of crimes. People tend to abandon their ethical values when they enter the internet, as the anonymity allows them to act recklessly. Raising public awareness about ethics, particularly digital ethics, will play a crucial role in changing this behavior.
Don’t students in schools learn ethics as a subject?
In 2019, the former Minister of Education issued a decision to include ethics education for citizenship in the curriculum for grades one to 12. This subject is still being taught, but it remains largely formal. There are many areas that need improvement, such as the content of the curriculum, the textbooks written for it, and the knowledge and skills of the teachers delivering the lessons. For example, this subject should be taught by teachers with knowledge of ethics and philosophy, as ethics is a major branch of philosophy. The curriculum needs to be developed by professionals in the field. Unfortunately, the curriculum was developed by non-experts, and it was assumed that any teacher could deliver the subject, which has led to distortion. This is why the subject is being criticized. In fact, the minister’s decree correctly stated that “social science teachers should teach this subject”. However, now, it is being taught by anyone who is available, such as Mongolian language teachers, math teachers, or homeroom teachers, which renders the subject ineffective. As a result, some parents and guardians criticize it as a “useless subject”.
The textbooks have faced quite a bit of criticism. In relation to this, research institutions have provided recommendations to the relevant ministries to improve the textbooks. What are your thoughts on how they can be improved?
Textbooks are written according to the curriculum that has been approved. Since the curriculum was not well-developed from the start, the textbooks have been criticized. Therefore, the curriculum should be properly designed from the outset. The textbooks should be written in language appropriate for each age group, with examples that are relevant to their lives. Instead of just imparting lessons, it is more effective to include examples and evidence that connect with the children's lives. Additionally, it is important to integrate the concepts of traditional moral values into the content of the textbooks. For example, one of my students, who conducted research on ethics education in Japan, shared how a mother discussed a moral dilemma with her son during a class. The teacher took that real-life issue and directly incorporated it into the lesson plan. This approach is much more “realistic” and practical. Moral education is about teaching children, at each stage of their lives, what they should reject and what they should value.
SINCE PEOPLE’S CONSCIENCES VARY, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO CREATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Could you clarify what you mean by “traditional moral values”? What could these include?
There is a tendency to disregard or undermine traditional moral values in the name of social change. In fact, we should approach tradition with the wisdom of knowing what to keep and what to discard. For example, most people from my generation were raised according to traditional moral principles. We were taught through proverbs such as “If you work hard, destiny will follow,” which conveyed the idea that you must rely on yourself and not expect help from others or the state. The emphasis was on personal responsibility—everything depends on you. Mongolians used to convey ethics through traditional thinking and proverbs without having to resort to formal theory or sermons. However, today, much of that valuable traditional wisdom has been abandoned. For instance, recently, when children stumble and fall, parents often blame obstacles in the way. This attitude encourages people to always look for someone else to blame. In contrast, when we were growing up, if we fell, our parents would say, “The child who falls doesn’t cry,” teaching us not to look for blame but to take responsibility for our actions.
In general, development should be a proper blend of tradition and innovation. As my teacher, Dr. N.Khavkh, used to say, “Innovation without tradition leads to destruction,” and that is true. Nowadays, many people talk about foreign programs, saying they are good, but we must remember that Mongolians have our own unique characteristics. Therefore, we should carefully consider which traditional ethical values we can continue to embrace today. We have inherited rich values like compassion, honesty, respect for one’s own and others’ dignity, cooperation, commitment, and a sense of shame and respect. These are valuable traditions that we must not forget.
When we step out onto the street, the circumstances are quite different from the principles we follow. Especially for children and young people, it seems like they inevitably adapt and blend into the environment.
Yes, that's true. Morality is a social phenomenon. A person is a product of their social environment and relationships. However, just because the surrounding environment might not align with our principles, we should not support unethical things or reconcile with them. It is important to believe that being honest and fair matters, and a person who has ingrained this belief in themselves will not reconcile with unfairness. By not reconciling, they will not necessarily face great harm. This is the importance of moral education. The more ethical, responsible, fair, and humane you are, the more valuable you will become. The key factor that determines your success and position in society is your moral values. A society made up of ethical citizens will progress as a whole. Everyone’s contribution is essential for this.
Unfortunately, I think the lack of moral education, upbringing, and character development is why individuals and society are not advancing. Some people say, “Everyone has become unethical, and it’s all over.” But then, who will change it? Mongolian society will change through the efforts of Mongolians themselves. No one from the outside, nor the 126 members of Parliament, can change it. Every individual, as part of society, has to contribute to improving social morality.
To improve social morality, we are starting to enforce laws. For example, last year, the Law on the Civil Service was passed. Do you think enacting and implementing laws is effective?
In fact, social morality regulates people’s daily interactions and activities more comprehensively than laws do. Unfortunately, when people’s moral awareness is lacking, we have no choice but to create laws and regulations. The need for laws arises from the level of social moral awareness and culture. The Code of Ethics for Public Servants was passed because of this necessity. Yet, even with such laws, people still ignore them and violate them. In reality, moral and legal norms have their own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Sometimes, the best results come when they are combined. However, to improve social morality, I believe the focus should be on enlightenment efforts. Morality is lifelong education. It is not just the concern of children and young people.
It seems that well-known individuals have a significant influence in deteriorating social morality. Influencers, politicians, journalists, and many others could be included in this category.
Well-known individuals also have an important role in improving social morality. Many politicians, business people, teachers, and figures from the arts and sports set a good example through their ethics. However, some of their unethical behavior, interactions, and attitudes contribute to the decline of social morality. For instance, irresponsible actions by politicians, inappropriate language from some singers, and ethical shortcomings by teachers. I recall that when the Independent Authority Against Corruption interviewed adolescents about fairness, one student said, “Teachers tell us to be fair, but they do unethical things right in front of us.” Therefore, teachers’ moral example is crucial. A teacher should not only impart scientific knowledge but also demonstrate right living and morality as a role model.
You’ve mentioned the importance of education multiple times. What do you think should be prioritized to address this?
The first thing to do is to improve the quality of moral education. Some people say that morality is not taught, but in fact, instruction is absolutely necessary. To achieve this, first, the curriculum must be developed by professionals, based on the interrelationship between individual and social life needs. Second, the textbooks must be well developed. Also, the teachers who teach these subjects need to be properly trained. Every subject should be taught by a qualified teacher. However, moral education cannot be left to just anyone to teach. Moreover, to identify the causes, consequences, and possible solutions for moral shortcomings in society, there is a need for interdisciplinary baseline research conducted by experts.
