Explanation of the causes of British moral anomie during the industrial revolution-a comprehensive analysis framework based on religion, thought and education

Abstract

AbstractIn traditional society, economic development and wealth accumulation will generally lead to a significant improvement in the overall moral level of the society, and vice versa. During the period of British industrial revolution, there was a historical phenomenon contrary to it, economic modernization brought about the general moral anomie of British society. The industrial revolution is the period of British social transformation, the causes of moral anomie are complex, and most of the existing studies focus on institutional and economic factors. During the industrial revolution in Britain, there were also secular religious beliefs, utilitarian ideas and laissez faire changes in school education. In the long process of religious secularization, it has caused a vacuum and distortion of morality and ethics. The utilitarianism of ideas breeds extreme egoism and money worship, and aggravates moral anomie. The laissez faire of British school education leads to the backwardness and utilitarianism of British education, which makes education unable to play the role of moral education. The moral dilemma is caused by these reasons, therefore, in order to realize the two-way growth of economic modernization and social moral modernization, we should pay attention to ideological and moral construction while developing economy. Combined with the actual situation of our country, we should actively establish moral norms matching the economic level and realize moral modernization from the aspects of establishing a good social atmosphere, transforming excellent traditional culture and reasonable government intervention in education.

Keywords

• religion
• thought
• education
• morality
• modernization