The Ontological Demand of Hope: Defining Our Moral Stance on Modern Institutions

Abstract

In support of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), this study strengthens the psycho-social relationships within modern institutions by emphasizing hope as a core value of work ethics. The challenge in contemporary institutions is balancing the interests of the administration and employees, which often creates moral dilemmas regarding administrative practices and community ethics. This study explores constructive ethics grounded in hope to enhance self-authenticity in administrative processes and to promote community ethics and attitudes toward institutional policies. It engages in a philosophical discussion on hope, examining its ontological aspect, which is crucial to support administrative decision-making. In this study, Gabriel Marcel’s (1965) ontological views on hope and Emmanuel Levinas’ (1969) ethics of the face were explored to address the challenge of modern institutions. This study used hermeneutics as a textual analysis to examine the leading works of Marcel and Levinas on social ethics and modernism. The study underscored the significance of (1) self-reflection and (2) ethical reciprocity, fostering individuals’ ability to recognize ‘moral disturbance' influenced by the social realities of others, thereby enhancing one’s moral responsibility and accountability. Consequently, the study highlights the importance of social communion in alleviating community differences and apathy through the ethics of hope. The findings emphasized the need to incorporate a hopeful moral attitude into social policy formulation and policy evaluation, particularly in the context of deregulation.