This is the question, which clarifies the position of ethics, because if we accept that morality and mentality of individuals depend on the structure of their body and soul, ethics will be vain and purposeless. But if we accept that it is changeable, the importance and value of this science is manifested well.
Some of the scientists have accepted the first possibility and believe that as some of trees bear bitter fruits, and as a gardener can not change their nature, mentality of the lowborn and impure-hearted will not be changed through training and even if it is changed, it will be very transitory and superficial, and will soon be restored to its first mode!
They suggest that structure of body and soul has a close relation with morality, and in fact morality of each person depends on the disposition of his soul and body, and for this reason, it is not changeable. They cite as a proof the traditions like:
«اَلنّاسُ مَعادِنٌ کَمَعادِنِ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ»
The people are like the mines of gold and silver.
In contrast to this attitude, majority of scientists believe that morality and mentality of individuals is completely alterable through training.
A great deal of experiences on the immoral persons has fully proved this reality that a lot of wicked and vicious individuals are perfectly corrected by a healthy environment, good association and high training. Otherwise, all of divine instructions of prophets and religious leaders were cancelled, because all of them are concerned with training men's souls. On the other hand, all punishments having a corrective aspect, being common among all nations throughout the world, were vain and ineffective!
We see that even fierce and wild animals are domesticated through training, and are used for the purposes against their original disposition. How we can believe the ill-humor in men to be more rooted than ferocity of wild animals!
We believe that the best way for proving this claim is studying the procedure of formation of a moral habit in a bid to find the way of eradicating it in the same way it is formed. We know that every good or bad action leaves a similar effect in man's soul and attracts man's soul to itself. Practice and repetition of the action increases this effect and gradually a feature called custom is achieved and with more practice, it changes into habit, and thus man's interior tendency to performing that action is increased by rooting of customs and habits. This reality is proved by experience.
Therefore, if moral customs and habits are formed through repetition of an action, they are removable in the same way. That is to say first action, then repetition and then formation of a moral attribute and habit.
Of course, suggestion, reflection, correct instructions and healthy environment- which has a suggestive effect's are very effective in predisposing soul for acceptance and formation of a good morality.
1- Majlessi, Beharol Anvar, 61/65, tradition 51
