When we raise our kids, we largely cultivate in them two forms of evil: pride (you’re better than the sort of person who does that) and fear (if you don’t want to get punished, you’ll behave). Sure we get them to behave, but aren’t we nurturing evil in the very center of their virtue when we do this? Isn’t what we ultimately want for them that they will be good for the sake of being good? So, is it better to do the right thing for the wrong reasons or to do the wrong thing for the right reasons? If doing the right thing for the right reasons counts 100%, what percent does doing the right thing for the wrong reasons count? In large part, these questions are getting at the difference between common virtue and real virtue. And, as Jonathan Edwards is so vehement to point out, don’t underestimate the value of common virtue in this world. If a man avoids running you off the road because he doesn’t want to damage his car, you’re still alive, right?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Ethics: Do Motives Matter?
When we raise our kids, we largely cultivate in them two forms of evil: pride (you’re better than the sort of person who does that) and fear (if you don’t want to get punished, you’ll behave). Sure we get them to behave, but aren’t we nurturing evil in the very center of their virtue when we do this? Isn’t what we ultimately want for them that they will be good for the sake of being good? So, is it better to do the right thing for the wrong reasons or to do the wrong thing for the right reasons? If doing the right thing for the right reasons counts 100%, what percent does doing the right thing for the wrong reasons count? In large part, these questions are getting at the difference between common virtue and real virtue. And, as Jonathan Edwards is so vehement to point out, don’t underestimate the value of common virtue in this world. If a man avoids running you off the road because he doesn’t want to damage his car, you’re still alive, right?
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