An Examination of Zygmunt Bauman's Views on Social Morals & Ethics

Abstract

This article aims to examine Zygmunt Bauman's views on morality and social ethics in the context of modern and postmodern societies, with relevance to socio-political dynamics in Indonesia, particularly Papua. This research uses a qualitative literature study method, utilizing Bauman's major works, academic documents, and contextual data on local socio-political conditions. The analysis focuses on postmodern ethical themes such as moral ambivalence, asymmetrical relationships, and rejection of the universality of modern ethics. The discussion reveals that Bauman offers an alternative ethical perspective emphasizing individual moral responsibility rather than coercive normative rules. In the context of Papua, this approach is able to explain the tension between state modernity and complex local realities, as well as reveal the importance of moral sensitivity in public policy formulation. Bauman shows that social ethics should not rely on rigid rationality, but on experiences of closeness, love, and responsibility towards others. This article underscores the urgency of renewing social-political ethics to build a more just and humane society