What if all Decisions Were Moral Decisions?
Rousseau, the man himself
When taking a look at Jean-Jacques Rousseau's deontological moral arguments, I came across an issue with his theories. He almost turns what should be a mundane every-day-life question, decision, or action into one of morality.
This got me thinking.
What if all decisions really were moral decisions?
What should I have for dinner?
Regular considerations:
- What do I already have in the freezer?
- How much money do I have in my wallet?
- What can I afford to take out of the bank?
- How much time do I have to eat?
- Do I have any guests over for dinner?
Moral considerations:
- Is the packaging on this pre-prepared lasagna eco-friendly?
- Is the meat in this pre-prepared lasagna free range?
- Am I a terrible human being for shredding a cow and eating it for dinner?
- Should I spend the money donating to charity rather than buying a steak?
- Should I buy this steak from a local store rather than a chain store?
- Should I be supporting local restaurants instead of cooking my own meals?
- Should I be hunting and gathering my own food so I don't feed into capitalism?
- I should become a vegetarian because morality.
Consider this before you make an omelette!
Should I go to the cinema?
Regular considerations:
- Do I have any work/chores?
- Do I have enough money to visit the cinema?
- Is there something else more fun and engaging I could be doing?
Moral considerations:
- Should I be visiting my granny in hospital instead?
- Should I be spending my time more productively, such as charity work?
- Will I be putting people out of a job if I don't go?
- Should I illegally download the film instead or would that be bad?
- Should I invite friends and let them share in the enjoyment?
- What if I meet a cute boy there, let one thing lead to another and end up facing the highly debated philosophical issue of abortion?
- What if I accidentally step on a snail along the way?
Speaking of the cinema:
Okay in all seriousness, this is a genuine issue.
In the majority of cases we've no need to think about the morality behind what we do. Whether we go to the gym, whether we go on a diet, whether we buy a new video game, it's all up to us.
But there are times, and they usually occur daily, when we should think of the impact our choices will make on those around us before we actually make that choice.
Sometimes we forget the importance of morality, and even if it is just an abstract concept created by mankind it was created for a reason.
So think about that tomorrow.
Make your day a moral day.
Influence the world for the better, even in the smallest of ways.
