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Theory of Morality

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We make moral judgements of behaviour by consulting our conscience (which could be defined as “the intersection of the mind and the soul”.)

• We do this by comparing a behaviour’s motivation with its impact.

• When motivation and impact are perceived to be good, we judge an action to be “right”.

• When motivation and impact are perceived to be bad, we judge an action to be “wrong”.

Realm

of

the s

oul (m

oti

vati

on)

Realm

of

the s

oul (m

oti

vati

on)

Realm of the mind (knowledge)

Realm

of

the s

oul (m

oti

vati

on)

Realm of the mind (knowledge)

Wrong

Right/ Misguided

Right

Right

Right

RightRight/ Misguided

Wrong/ Ambiguous

Wrong/ Ambiguous

Realm

of

the s

oul (m

oti

vati

on)

Realm of the mind (knowledge)

Wrong

Right/ Misguided

Divine

Right

Right

Right

RightRight/ Misguided

Wrong/ Ambiguous

Wrong/ Ambiguous

Malevolent

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Moral judgements are not always black and white.

• Some behaviours are hard to judge because:– Interactions between motivation and impact can be

paradoxical.– We are often working with incomplete information about how a

person has weighed the consequences of their behaviour.

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When we are choosing our own behaviour, it is our conscience that guides us.

• Our own moral intentions could be said to emanate from the “realm of the soul”.

• Our assessment of the net impact of our behaviour on other lives emanates from the “realm of the mind”.

• Individual moral decisions are therefore always personal and subjective, as they can only be made within the parameters of what is known.

• Because “what is known” can have infinite variations, there are no moral absolutes.

• Moral absolutes require infinite knowledge of the connection of all things.

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Self-interest

• Self interest is never good, but it doesn’t seems as bad if the consequences are net neutral or net positive.

• It is well known that the more we can remove ourselves from the consequences of our actions, the easier it is to act in self interest.

• Capitalism and globalisation remove us from the consequences of our actions.

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Lessons

• By tapping into the connectedness of all things, we can make better moral judgements.

• If we wish to judge, the first thing we must do is increase our knowledge of the unique circumstances of the moral dilemma.

• We need to build societies and ways of living in the world that bring us into greater contact with the consequences of our decisions.

• Ultimately, because we can’t know the connectedness of all things, we must:– Focus on the “now”.– Direct our moral intentions towards those we are with (regardless of

species).– Do the right thing by them.

• If all of us do this, we will create a self-perpetuating cycle of good.