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Moral Reasoning - A Convergence

This is a continuation from the page, Moral Values.

Sometimes moral reasoning that starts from very different premises arrives at the same place. For example, in the story of the mother with the tied-up child, it is possible to argue for saving the one child instead of the four from either the morality of self-interest or that of "the greater good." This convergence of moral thought happens for at least two reasons.

1. Different Moral Reasoning Leads To Common Values

First, sometimes a given reality or conclusion fits the values of more than one moral system. For example, if one looks at economic systems, many who start from either a morality of self-interest or "the greater good" arrive at a free-market system as the best choice. A look at history makes it tough to argue that the more communism is better for a society than freedom and free markets. The latter has proven itself to be better for human freedom and human well being.

It makes sense that self interest normally coincides with the interest of others, and this becomes clearer as we come to better understand what is in our own self interest. To begin with, we want things which require satisfying the needs and wants of others, even if that wasn't our intention. But we also come to identify more strongly with others as we mature, and so we want to help others more directly. This might be called spiritual self interest, and is harder to measure, but the "profit" is just as real.

Consider a simple example. You're stranded on a desert island with ten people. They each have a little bit of food. Now, using a crude understanding of self interest, you could kill them all and take their food. Of course, you'll only get a temporary gain. Meanwhile you will have killed the man who knows how to fish, the woman who might be your lover, and others who could be of some benefit to you.

Killing these people is obviously not in your self interest. You want them to survive, and you even want them to thrive. If they're well-fed, healthy and happy, they can all contribute to and cooperate in your little "world," making it richer for them and for yourself. Simple examples like this on show how self interest leads to an interest in the welfare of others, and there is no reason the principle would change when applied on a larger scale.

Note: These pages are speculative, an attempt to look at things in new ways. Experience tells me there's a "natural morality" which is experienced as our "conscience", and that with few exceptions, this is universal in humans. Furthermore, we can see that it is in our own self interest to "do the right thing." But the particular ways in which we describe these things may evolve. In other words, I may change my mind on some points here.

An understanding of the deeper or more spiritual aspects of this doesn't come as easily, but it is just as real. It is the sense that "he is part of me." It is identification with other life. A personal morality proceeds from personal values, and these grow to include other people, and even beyond humans to other animals.

This is not something that is easily explained to someone who hasn't experienced it, but fortunately we almost all have experienced this to some degree. When you see yourself in another, or see a common struggle or any kind of commonality that you identify with, you want the best for that person with the same kind of selfish feeling that leads you to the kitchen to feed your own stomach. That identification, and any generosity that comes from it, makes you feel good, so it is in your self interest.

(If you think that feeling good is not a part of surviving and thriving, you just haven't kept up with the latest research on human health.)

A more common expression of this is the respect we feel in general for others. For example, we've all been tired while waiting in lines before, so we relate to the feelings of others in line and don't cut in front of them. In fact, if someone is struggling with a disability, we might even give him our place in line. This may appear altruistic, but if we value others and are happy helping them, it is entirely selfish and healthy.

Actions like these psychologically create the kind of world that you want to live in. That is a matter of profound self interest. Whether we call this psychology or spirituality may not be important, but the phenomenon is real for any who experience a "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" moment. YOUR world improves as much as the other person's. Thus we can see that many common goals can be arrived at from either view of morality.

2. Natural Reason and Rationalization

There is another interesting theory for why differing moral systems can lead to common ground so often. It is the idea that we have a "natural reasoning ability" that exists outside of language and logic, and so we would naturally tend to agree more often than not on what is "good." Logic, then, steps in only to justify what we "see" as true.

In other words, if we two of us "see" the truth of a situation, we agree from the start about what is "good" or "evil" about it. We just argue about "why" it is good or evil. We have common values from the start, and our infinitely powerful minds find a way to fit those values into our moral reasoning.

This, by the way, suggest that we might be lead in the wrong direction by logic as often as it helps us. Certainly, in the case of the stated beliefs of the various religions out there, we would prefer that people follow their "natural reason" rather than the logic of their beliefs. Consider the common belief, "the Bible is the word of God and we should follow it," and then think about some of the horrible lessons of the old testament. We certainly don't want believers logically putting those into practice.

To summarize: Our moral reasoning starts from different premises and arrives at similar conclusions. This is because the logic of either moral system actually results in shared values, or because we have "natural reason" which gives us some common values, and then we each rationalize them to fit our particular moral beliefs. Either way, it does suggest the question of whether it matters how we define morality...

Continued here: Moral Relativism?

Radical New Thoughts | Moral Reasoning - A Convergence