From the Founder of the SES: The Philosopher as an Instrument of Grassroots Democracy
By Dr. Romulo Bautista
Philosophy teachers from various schools in Mindanao have organized themselves into a Social Ethics Society, in order to help solve and/or bring the moral aspect of socio-political-economic problems for solution to political leaders of Mindanao. The Social Ethics Society laments the fact that the elite leadership of democracy in Mindanao has not done enough to improve the socio-economic fortune of the poor in the rural and in the urban areas. In terms of real income, the poor are even poorer today than they were in previous years.
Empty of moral component, the political leadership of the elite few is passed from one elite group to another elite group. Contrary to the republican vision of our Constitution, the elite leaders used their delegated authority from the voters who are mostly poor, to further their vested interests at the expense of the best interests of the poor. It is time for Social Ethics Society to teach, educate, and enlighten voters at the grassroots communities of the importance of morality in the forthcoming election toward the improvement of their fortunes.
No theory of Social Ethics can operate in a vacuum in the real world. Its abstract theory has to be always validated, verified and/or practiced in concrete situations in the real world. Likewise, the Social Ethics Society could not pursue its philosophical vision, mission, and goal in a vacuum beyond the classroom, but always in given situations in the real world. In my various roles, I have been a member of professional, civic, athletic, social, and religious organizations. But I have never been a member of any organization in my role as philosopher.
Let me explain with an analogy. An economics graduate who works as bus driver is not an economist in the true sense of the word; a political science graduate who works as artist in an advertising firm is not a political scientist in the true sense of the word. Likewise, a philosopher who works as a community organizer is not a philosopher in the true sense of the word. A community organizer as such has a different objective from that of a philosopher as such.
In conclusion, the mission of Social Ethics Society is to get its members involved as philosopher to address the ethical and moral dimensions of social problem and issues in the real world. The grassroots programs and projects of the Society would be its vehicles to carry out its vision, mission, and goals.
