The headline of this article is somewhat provocative. Ethics are compared to „game levels,“ as in a computer game, which doesn’t seem to do justice to the meaning of ethics. However, breaking ethics down into more digestible chunks or levels can help us understand its complexity. In addition, we all know people who act ethically at a very high level, performing actions that we would currently not be capable of.
So why the analogy to a computer game? In both cases, the level of difficulty increases with each new level. The further you progress, the more new difficulties and challenges arise. Suddenly, new characters, tools, and skills appear that were not available in the lower levels. It becomes increasingly complex and difficult to successfully complete a level, but the rewards also become greater.
Level 1 – Basic Ethics
You could say that this is the starting level where we begin. One of the most influential factors here is the ethical education we received as children. In addition to this, personal aptitude plays a role. Some people possess ethical qualities without needing to consciously decide to behave ethically. They do not lie, are conscientious and honest, and are not overly opinionated. They are also modest, considerate, empathetic, and inherently helpful without having to make a great effort. These ethical qualities are programmed into our nature by various factors, such as upbringing or aptitude. It is less a matter of an active and conscious decision to think and behave in this way.
However, it is possible that only some characteristics are „pre-programmed“ in this way, and not all aspects of ethical behavior are subject to such automatism. For example, someone may not lie but be otherwise selfish and refuse to make the slightest effort to care about the welfare of others. This type of ethics therefore remains rather static, it remains as it was given to them early in life, and unfortunately the same applies to the unethical behavior. In other words, they are who they are and cannot or will not „change their ways“. They are not interested in genuinely changing their nature. People who remain at this level may have excellent ethical dispositions in certain areas but neglect to consciously overcome their unethical impulses that would lead to harmonious development in all areas.
Level 2 – Superficial Ethics
There is a kind of social ethical minimum that has exclusively to do with social custom: essentially it consists of adhering to a set of rules in order to be accepted by society. It is a minimal and rather externally focused ethic with the aim of ensuring pleasant coexistence with one’s fellow human beings. This level has its social benefits, but remains superficial, without going into the depth that is essential for genuine ethical behavior. The outward signs of ethics seem more important than the inner attitude. It may seem sufficient to appear modest and continue to believe that it is not necessary to cultivate genuine, heartfelt gratitude for what one has; or perhaps: that it is sufficient to have tact and sensitivity for successful social interaction with others, but that it is not necessary to be truly compassionate; or that it is enough to be polite in words and manner, even though one despises others inwardly and considers oneself the smartest person in the room; that it is sufficient to hide one’s joy at the misfortune of others instead of feeling sincere compassion; that it is enough not to be argumentative, yet to speak ill of others behind their backs, etc., etc.
This superficial and outward-oriented ethic is tied to social interest: the fear of displeasing others prevents one from acting unethically. The desire to please, to be admired, or to be socially successful causes us to behave in a superficially ethical manner. These outward-oriented behaviors have no counterpart in our thinking and are therefore not in harmony with our inner reality.
Level 3 – transformative ethics
Transformative ethics aims to bring about a profound transformation in our innermost being. Its goals and practices go far beyond the requirements of the first two levels.
The goal of transformative ethics is not merely to ensure a social order that enables us to live together, nor is it about habitually following an ethical principle we learned as children. Rather, it is an ethic that leads to a lasting change in our nature. At this level, we strive for a deeper dimension of ethics. Practicing this ethic expands our knowledge of our innermost being by learning to recognize and control its inner forces—both ethical and unethical. The goal is to gain a deeper knowledge of ourselves.
Practicing transformative ethics requires courage, adherence to principles, resilience, and perseverance. It also requires the ability to motivate oneself repeatedly because, at this level, one consciously seeks to fight powerful opponents whom one largely ignored and allowed to have their way at initial levels. First and foremost, these opponents are the numerous unethical impulses within us that we must confront. Only those who recognize these impulses—both subtle and obvious—within themselves and actively fight against them can advance. This means repeatedly choosing ethical behavior to the best of one’s ability, with the firm intention of bringing about a change of one’s nature. This involves nothing less than changing the “DNA” of our innermost being. At the end of this process, there is a change not only in external behavior but also the transformation of unethical impulses into ethical ones. An effective tool in this struggle is to listen to and follow one’s conscience (provided it is well-tuned) — applying the „Golden Rule“ can facilitate this process.
Transformative ethics is a conscious mindset and attitude towards life. Like everyone else, you live your life in society with family, work, and the pursuit of prosperity and social success. At the same time, however, it is also about adding another dimension to your life and understanding life as an opportunity to transform your innermost being through the practice of transformative ethics. This dimension is not added to our lives like a hobby or an occasional activity; it is an integral part of our life. It influences our worldview and the meaning of our lives. From this perspective, transformative ethics is not a means for us to have better lives; rather, life becomes a means to develop ourselves ethically and become true human beings.
One more thing: As human beings, we are endowed with reason, and depending on how developed our minds are, we have free will. Why don’t we make better use of our free will, minds, and reason? Why don’t we use them to leave the initial levels of ethics behind and strive to develop our innermost being? With this perspective and worldview, life loses its self-serving character and gains new meaning by being perceived as a necessary stage in a more comprehensive process of change and maturation of our innermost being.
Authors: The Ethica Rationalis editorial team
