GS Paper 4
Syllabus: Ethics
Source: TH, IE
Context: In the editorial article, Shashi Tharoor discusses the issue of colonial-era artefacts and the need for moral atonement alongside financial reparations.
What is Moral atonement?
It refers to the act of acknowledging and taking responsibility for one’s moral wrongdoings or harmful actions and seeking to make amends or seek forgiveness. It involves a sincere effort to make things right on a moral level.
Recent Example: Netherlands will return hundreds of colonial-era artefacts — including a bejewelled, ceremonial cannon—to Sri Lanka. Also, British and German museums returned the so-called Benin Bronzes stolen from Nigeria during a large-scale 1897 British military expedition.
Other examples:
- Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2016 apologised on behalf of Canada for denying permission for the Indian immigrants on the Komagata Maru to land in Vancouver (in 1914), thereby sending most of them to their deaths.
- Willy Brandt (Chancellor of Germany) sank to his knees at the Warsaw Ghetto in 1970 to apologise to Polish Jews for the Holocaust.
Example from daily life:
Imagine you accidentally break your friend’s favourite mug while visiting their house. You feel guilty and understand that you have caused them distress.
To make moral atonement, you would take the following steps:
- Acknowledge your mistake: Admit that you broke your friend’s mug and understand that it was your fault.
- Apologize: Express sincere remorse for your actions and apologize to your friend for the damage caused.
- Take responsibility: Offer to replace the mug or compensate your friend for its value as a way of taking responsibility for your actions.
- Learn from the experience: Reflect on what happened and learn from your mistake. Promise to be more careful and considerate in the future.
Other ethical words involved:
Restitution refers to the act of returning or restoring something that was taken, stolen, or lost to its rightful owner. It involves making amends or compensating for past injustices or wrongdoings.
- For example, returning cultural artefacts or artworks to their country of origin, which were acquired through colonialism or looting, can be seen as a form of restitution.
Reparation refers to the act of making amends or providing compensation for harm or injustice caused. It involves acknowledging and addressing past wrongs to achieve justice.
- For example, providing financial compensation or support to individuals or communities who were victims of slavery or other forms of historical oppression can be considered reparations.
Insta Links:
