WHY BE MORAL?
Having some knowledge of what morality is might not be enough to convince the student that he or she should be moral. Here we will discuss the reasons a person might choose to pursue a moral path.
It is said that living a moral life gives a person a certain peace and happiness which cannot be found anywhere else. Perhaps most people who try to live lives observing moral principles hope for this peace, and perhaps they should. Many also believe in a heaven or some eternal reward. This may offer some incentive to continue trying to live a good and noble life even in the face of constant hardship and adversity. Still others adopt moral rules out of fear of sanctions from society or even from 'God’ (Hell). Incentives which involve personal rewards might be good and effective in inspiring moral behaviour in many.
But is this all that drives moral behaviour - a desire for personal gain? For one to have the clearest understanding of this whole issue of morality it is necessary to ask this question: If there was nothing to be gained personally from living a moral life (not even attainment of personal peace), if only others would benefit, would anyone be inspired to live a moral life? In other words, can there ever be a perfectly unselfish reason to live a moral life?
In the chapter on purpose, it was argued that the ultimate purpose of anything has to be higher than reason since, if one could find a reason for the ultimate purpose, it then ceases to be the ultimate purpose and is superseded by the said reason. For example, if one acts morally in order to gain peace, then that person's peace becomes greater (or more important) than morality itself.
The Ultimate Purpose by definition is ultimate, therefore it can serve no higher purpose than itself. If the ultimate purpose is the ultimate 'Good,' then there can be no greater reason for goodness than goodness itself. If as suggested, Love is the ultimate purpose, if Love is what morality is based upon, then the best answer to the question "why be moral?" can only be, "Love".
Still, how can it be possible to understand why anyone should be moral if it is not subject to reason? If our ultimate purpose for living must necessarily be above and beyond reason, then would it not be beyond the scope of even the greatest mind? After all, the greatest power the mind possesses is still only the power to reason things out. Again, how is it possible for anyone to explain the reason why people should act morally if morality deals with fulfilment of a purpose (love) which is beyond reason? Perhaps the reply to this question is based on the fact that although love is beyond human reasoning it is within human experience.
It is very important to note that our inability to reason out why one should do "good" does not mean that one should not do good. That conclusion would be quite illogical. It might simply mean that there is a limit to human reasoning. Is knowledge always dependent on reasoning? Are there not other types of knowledge which do not come from reasoning? A bird's knowledge of how to build a nest, for example, which can be classified as instinctive knowledge, does not come from reason. The knowledge one has of oneself comes from an 'experience of being' and not from reason. The knowledge of how to ride a bicycle is another example of non-reasoned knowledge. This kind of knowledge can only be attained by trying and falling and getting up again, over and over again. Even the most adept rider cannot really teach anyone to ride a bicycle. He or she can be the best coach or mentor but ultimately the experience itself is the rider's teacher.
As riding is its own teacher and gives its knowledge only to the rider, love may be its own teacher and reveals its "reason" only to those who love. In fact, it could be said that as far as a reason to be moral goes, to the one who loves, no reason is necessary. To the one who does not love, no reason is possible." Perhaps then our purpose can only be understood not by the mind but by the heart which seems better able to possess this type of knowledge. Perhaps this type of knowledge which is not derived from the process of thought or reason can only be treasured and pondered in our hearts.
Activity: Write in your journal the reasons you hold on to your philosophy/religious beliefs. Describe how you might change if you stopped believing.