The first time this thought occurred to me was when I was 5 years old. In my first standard, I failed a subject both during the semester and on the annual exam. That powerful theme was, ‘Moral Science’. I had trouble learning all the lessons of honesty, hard work and obedience as I was pretty poor at English. Now again, after 18 years, this thought reinvents itself in my mind.

‘Why do we need ‘moral science’ classes?’

If we try to analyze the reminiscence of the moral science syllabus and its practical relevance, we will hardly find any correlation. Morality now seems to be nothing more than an illusion that generates the necessary social cohesion necessary to raise offspring. If you aspire to a better society, without classes, to the kingdom of heaven on earth, then forget it. It’s all bullshit. Even the most morally optimistic man knows that the world has never changed for the better. Since the birth of Christ and even before, wars, betrayal and lies are the innate elements of society. So what is morality and how is it invented?

From the Cambridge dictionary, the meaning of ‘morality’ is ‘a personal or social set of standards for good or bad behavior and character or the quality of being right, honest and acceptable’. Now some questions naturally arise

Who has decided these rules?

Is it God, messenger of god, or normal human beings?

To whom do these rules apply?

Is it for intellectuals, saints or common men?

You may not be sure about all of these answers. but for the first question, you’ll probably say ‘God’. Well then why in every civilization, these rules are almost the same, even their gods are different. All other principles are different, except this set of moralities. Weird….!! No?. Another strange thing is that if you believe that the truth always wins, then you must know what the truth is. The truth according to the masses is what the masses believe. In the 15th century, the truth was that ‘the earth is flat’. Now, we all know that the earth is ’round’. It may be in the 25th century, the truth will be, ‘the earth is a moon of another giant planet in a different galaxy’. Who knows?

Let’s understand that we all have to play our part in this world. Regardless of what moral science teaches us, some people would be criminals, workers, diplomats, sycophants, leaders, etc. At some point, everyone uses the power of ‘lying’ to play their role more effectively. Lying is a necessary condition to grow in some cases. If you teach your child that ‘honesty is the best policy’ then give that child an honest world. For example The leaders have to channel the crowd by instilling the feeling of respect (rather I should say chauvinism) towards one’s own country, religion, region, caste or showing them the utopian mirage. These morals sometimes contradict respect and honesty. If you don’t like a person and you have to stay with them, then you have to leave either of the two morals.

On closer examination, we will understand that this morality is generally applicable to us, the bourgeoisie or the middle class or the common man. But they are still run by churchmen or white collar people who are less hard working. Obedience is also only for the normal man. Neither the king has to be obedient, nor the thieves. ‘Caring and sharing’ for people at the top of the social pyramid is good only for pets. Everyone knows that caring and sharing first became a habit, then it will become a duty, and finally a burden.

So what would be the other path, what should we teach our children? The best would be a class on ‘Life Lessons’. At a young age, we have to teach them how to lie efficiently, making them glib. We have to make them innovative while making excuses. It is the easiest way to handle the difficult situation. Nobody is interested in hearing the truth, they just want to hear what rationally justifies the situation. Teaching people to be self-centered. At graduation we can teach the importance of opportunity. Since you don’t strike twice, make your own way to opportunity by hook or by crook. Teach them how to snatch moments of pleasure instead of gaining happiness. And finally, how to find self-respect in dishonesty?

For academics like PhD, the ultimate ‘life lesson’ must be taught. Yes, you have made your life so complex that truth or suicide is the only way to get out of that web. You are so enchanted by the old moral thoughts of peace of mind, that you question yourself about participating in this rat race of materialistic pleasure. You seem to need faithful friends more than a new car. Consult a psychiatrist or a sanyasi baba. He/she will convince you that you may have done something wrong in the past, but now your life can be on track. Spend some time and money with them. And buy peace… as simple as can be! The ‘lessons of life’ could be an anodyne for society.

Maybe I am wrong. But I am sure that if this kind of ‘Life Lesson’ subject is taught in school in the future, my son would never complain about the introduction of this subject. How would he know how to cheat on a test!…good lesson…isn’t it?