This question may sound profound, but in reality it is a false proposition. The relationship between law and morality is certainly important, yet both are tools and means, not the ultimate goal of a civilized society. True happiness and civilization do not lie in law or morality alone, but in the creation, production, and protection of social welfare. Only by building systems and institutions that safeguard and enhance the well-being of society as a whole can we foster a healthy interaction between individuals and communities, leading humanity toward a future that is happier, fairer, and more dignified.
I. The limits of law and morality
Law, as the foundation of social governance, emphasizes rules and order. Yet it cannot cover the full complexity of human life, nor can it directly address individual happiness. While law can restrain harmful behavior, it cannot cultivate kindness or compassion. For example, the law may punish theft, but it cannot legislate that everyone must help the poor.
Morality, on the other hand, rests on personal conscience and shared social values. Its weakness lies in the absence of enforceability and universal application. Moral understanding differs across cultures, education, and personal experience, which makes it difficult for morality to serve as a consistent guide in diverse societies.
Relying solely on morality also risks hypocrisy. Some people even stand on a moral high ground and place moral demands on the most vulnerable, using morality as a tool to exploit others. History has shown many such cases, and the same patterns still appear today—for example, when victims are judged and blamed instead of being supported. This shows that relying only on morality to guide society is not enough; in fact, it can sometimes do real harm.
II. Social welfare: the true measure of a civilized society
A truly civilized society is not defined by how laws and morals balance or clash, but by whether it can generate social welfare. Social welfare meets people’s basic needs, improves their quality of life, and fosters a deeper sense of well-being. This is what allows a society to keep moving forward.
1. Creating social welfare
The creation of social welfare is the first step toward a more advanced society. With innovative policies and systems, we can provide fair opportunities for more people. For example, ongoing improvements in universal education and comprehensive healthcare are signs of real progress. Of course, many current education and healthcare systems still fall short. That is why people must keep pushing for fairness in access and excellence in outcomes, instead of simply accepting the status quo. Only by continuously creating conditions for genuine happiness can individuals thrive, and only then can society rise to a higher level of civilization.
2. Producing social welfare
Producing social welfare is the key step that turns ideas into reality. It is the continuation of welfare creation and includes expanding access to education, building more healthcare facilities, and providing standardized social services. For example, in many developed countries, public funding combined with the participation of social enterprises has built efficient and diverse systems of welfare delivery. This not only gives people real, practical support but also drives the overall progress of society and civilization.
3. Social welfare protection
Social welfare protection ensures that everyone can meet basic needs when facing risks such as illness, unemployment, or aging. It is not just about caring for individuals, but also about maintaining social stability. For example, a well-designed pension system allows the elderly to enjoy their later years while easing the financial burden on younger generations. Such welfare protection marks a key stage in human civilization, moving from “survival of the fittest” to a model of cooperation and shared prosperity.
III. A happy society built on social welfare
When a society places the creation, delivery, and protection of social welfare at its core, law and morality no longer stand in opposition—they become complementary tools serving the same goal. Law provides the enforcement and security needed to implement welfare, while morality adds warmth and care to its creation. At Yicheng Commonweal, we continue to study and analyze this approach.
For example, the social welfare systems in Nordic countries are often hailed as models of modern civilization. Through policies such as free education, universal healthcare, and childcare subsidies, these nations have built highly developed welfare societies grounded in both law and morality. Such societies allow every individual to live with dignity while raising the overall standard of living. However, Nordic welfare systems primarily focus on maintaining basic living standards and lack mechanisms for the ongoing creation and production of welfare. They rely heavily on continuous government funding and taxpayer contributions. If mechanisms for welfare creation and production were incorporated at the source, these systems could generate social value continuously, moving beyond the current model that depends so heavily on fiscal input.
IV. Yicheng Commonweal: Cultivating the Welfare of Our Civilization
At Yicheng Commonweal, we understand that true happiness and civilization stem from the comprehensive development of social welfare. That is why we are committed to driving welfare creation, improving welfare production, and ensuring fair access through innovative public initiatives. We believe that civilization is not an abstract concept—it is the tangible experience of well-being, the cultivation of kindness, and the nurturing of responsibility.
By establishing inclusive public-benefit organizations, commonweal union, and social enterprises, we continuously introduce services that create, produce, and safeguard social welfare. In doing so, we cultivate well-being in people’s lives, offering hope and support to those in need. This sowing of welfare not only transforms individual lives but also fundamentally elevates the overall happiness and civility of society.
Conclusion
Social happiness and civilization come from creating, providing, and protecting social welfare. Through a well-developed social welfare system, the value of law and morality can be fully realized, ensuring both individual quality of life and overall social progress.
The measure of civilization does not lie in abstract theoretical debates, but in the tangible sowing of welfare through action. Every innovation in social welfare and every improvement in individual lives pushes society toward a brighter future. The true source of happiness and civilization is the welfare society we collectively create, produce, and protect.
