Is ethics an absolute imperative or just a passing trend? This was the starting point of the luncheon debate organized by Círculo Eça de Queiroz, featuring António Bagão Félix as the keynote speaker. The debate, themed “Ethics: Imperative or Trend?”, provided a space for reflection on the nature of ethics and its relationship with morality, law, and both individual and collective responsibility. According to António Bagão Félix, ethics is an absolute imperative of being, which goes beyond legality, cannot be relativized by circumstances, and demands a balance between freedom and responsibility.
During the discussion, fundamental questions were explored, such as the distinction between ethics and morality, the intersection between what is ethically acceptable and what is legally permissible, and the challenges of an ethics that either adapts to circumstances or remains an unshakable principle. António Bagão Félix also addressed the erosion of values in contemporary society and the urgent need for an ethical renewal, both structurally and generationally.
The speaker emphasized the importance of reconciling self-demand with the expectations placed on others and questioned whether ethics is an unwavering conviction or merely a temporary embellishment.
For António Ayres Gonçalves, President of the Cultural Council of Círculo Eça de Queiroz, “Discussing ethics today is not just an academic exercise, but a civic duty.” Faced with the moral and social challenges of our time, he stressed that “it is essential to reflect on the principles that should guide our choices and behaviors.”