What do you think of the following statement? ... Is it true/false? Do you agree/disagree?
"The fall of a civilization always begins with the decay of its citizens moral values"
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firefall · 61-69, M
I see no evidence of that from history, looking back at fallen civilisations, such as the Romans, the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Mongols (just off the top of my head).
In none of those is there any strong evidence of a 'moral decay'. Indeed, for at least the Roman and Egyptians, you'd have to say there was a stronger sense of moral rectitude at the end than when they were 'at their height'.
Decay of moral values seems to mostly just something that conservatives (in the original sense, not the political sense) whip out to castigate changes they disapprove of. Morals change, they aren't some absolute even within a society.
In none of those is there any strong evidence of a 'moral decay'. Indeed, for at least the Roman and Egyptians, you'd have to say there was a stronger sense of moral rectitude at the end than when they were 'at their height'.
Decay of moral values seems to mostly just something that conservatives (in the original sense, not the political sense) whip out to castigate changes they disapprove of. Morals change, they aren't some absolute even within a society.