On political morality and ethics...

Everyone has surely heard the phrase "know thyself," emphasized by the philosopher Socrates.

The subject of ethics has been discussed frequently in recent times, both in certain fields of knowledge and in daily life. The history of ethics in philosophy dates back a long time. In the period we are currently in, it is observed that more importance is being placed on the subject of ethics.

The etymological root of the word "ethics" comes from the ancient Greek "ethos." At its root, it refers to matters related to "ethe," the plural of ethos. According to İonna Kuçuradi, it contains the meaning of a living being's "space," "the place one constantly goes to, a refuge, an environment." (Kuçuradi, Approaches to Ethics, Approaches in Ethics and a Thought on 'Universal Ethics', 1997).

In terms of its original meaning, the word "ethics," which means "character" or "disposition," essentially contains a situation related to the individual, a state specific to them.

Heraclitus stated the phrase, "a person's ethos (that is, their disposition) is their daimon" (A. Baki Güçlü, Erkan Uzun, Serkan Uzun, Ü. Hüsrev Yolsal, Philosophy Dictionary, Bilim ve Sanat Yayınları, 2002).

Alongside "ethics," another important concept is "morality." When considering the thoughts expressed, decisions made, or actions taken by people in daily life, it is seen that the concept of "morality" can be evaluated as consisting of a sum of "value criteria" or judgments and standards, parallel to a community, environment, place, and time. This understanding views ethics and morality as similar...

Morality can be said to be a phenomenon related to the social side of a person. In a sense, morality is one of the conditions of an individual's existence. It includes a part of their cultural environment.

Political Morality...

Political morality, which has been debated for days, refers to the principles, rules, and values that ensure politicians act in a fair, honest, transparent, and responsible manner by prioritizing the public interest.

Honesty, integrity, not deceiving the public, not hiding or distorting facts and information, prioritizing the public good, using public resources in an accountable manner, ensuring justice and equality, openly announcing actions taken, resigning when necessary, avoiding corruption and bribery, and staying away from all unethical behaviors are the requirements of political morality...

It plays a key role in citizens' trust in political institutions and figures, in the construction of a political system with a fair and participatory structure, and in the increasing of this functionality.

In the event of the abandonment of political morality or a lack thereof, situations arise where the interests of an individual or a narrow circle are placed before the public interest, methods such as corruption and bribery are normalized, the public is misled through false statements, withholding information, or manipulation, and power and authority are used outside the boundaries of the law. Arbitrary methods come to the fore. The separation of powers and the rule of law are harmed.

In this current period where political morality and ethics are discussed the most, it may be useful to remind ourselves: the perception of political morality is closely related to the democracy level, commitment to the rule of law, and social culture of countries. In some places, it is still maintained at a high level through strong institutional structures and social oversight. Thanks to this, administrations are transparent, decision-making processes are open, and public expenditures are auditable. Politicians are able to be held accountable and resign quickly in the event of a negative development, error, wrong practice, or ethical violation. However, on a wider scale, it is observed that political morality is undergoing a major erosion. Perception management is replacing facts, and moves aimed at gaining short-term votes are coming to the fore. Interference with the media, nepotism, and lack of merit are prominent...

Today, in many countries around the world, people see political morality not as a standard that should exist, but as an ideal that is difficult to achieve.

As a result, due to what is being experienced, citizens are distancing themselves from politics and are gradually losing their sensitivity toward the picture created by the perception that politics is not very clean anyway. Against this environment that suits some, all citizens, especially the younger generation, need to take more ownership of their country, their democratic rights, and their demands.

In short:
As long as human existence continues, human relations and activities will also continue... And "thought and behavior are inseparable" (Dr. Hikmet Kıvılcımlı).
Politicians who adhere to morality, political morality, and ethics will grow within the society they are in. With the hope that humanity will question everything anew...