Moral Philosophy
I grew up learning that the word moral largely referenced the ten commandments issued by a very jealous and punishing god. Yet I also grew up with the teachings of that Jesus fellow who is reported to have given us the Beatitudes which are sometimes compared to Psalm l:1-6 although I hear them very differently.
When I started or restarted my college career at the University of Maryland I was introduced to the study of moral philosophy and psychology, From Plato to Immanuel Kant to Soren Kierkegaard to Bertram Russell and a host of others I was invited to rethink the purpose of this brief life journey of us humans. In my first graduate school experience I would be invited by the poet and philosopher Walter Kaufman to join 11 other graduate students to explore the concept of justice. On weekends during this time I was invited to join others in prayers at Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. We were praying that the then leaders of these United states might question what it meant to make a moral decision with regards to our involvement in Vietnam. We were also concerned about the moral price of investments which benefited some at the cost of oppressing others.
If I google moral philosophers I get an initial list of 48 only two of which are women. Jacqueline Novogratz is not listed as a moral philosopher but her recent book Toward a Moral Revolution and her work to use financial systems to serve a moral purpose other than making profit certainly qualifies her as a moral philosopher. (Many other women have left a legacy of moral philosophy even if they are not listed as such.)
Ms. Novofgratz was the guest of Krista Tippett host of On Being podcast on May 21, 2020. I urge the reader of this blog to listen to this podcast.
Ms. Novogratz suggests that the golden rule could be “Give more to the world than you take from it.” She was influenced by the nun teacher who suggested to the class to take to heart the reminder “To whom much is given much is expected.”
Once again, on this Friday morning. I am challenged to consider what it means to be human. What is the purpose of this life journey? This automatically leads to the question of who is sacred/worthwhile. Is it true that all men (and women) are created equal? What is my responsibility as a result of my privileged position? Does my privileged position indicate the amount in my bank account, the fact that I am physically abled, the fact that I have a job I enjoy, or the fact that I have wise spiritual teachers?
A friend of mine has a friend who was grateful to stand in line in the hot sun for a $40.00 check for his aged mother. Two other friends purchase houses which they rent out to others for a very low amount and then find lots of other ways to give of their money, time, and energy to others in the community. Another friend is in the process of purchasing a house outside his condo association so that he can provide individuals with a felon history and have little money a safe, comfortable home. Ms. Novogratz talks about an organization which has made it possible for 100 million people to have electricity. Friends of mine in two local businesses hire people who need a second chance or a third chance.
Economic systems are not moral or immoral. They are tools. A shovel is a tool. If I am using a shove hide an unkind deed it is not serving a moral purpose. If I am using that same shovel to plant a garden to help feed my family and others it is serving a moral purpose. Ms. Novogratz suggests that we could switch from thinking of ourselves as consumers to thinking of ourselves as citizens; from thinking of profit as a motive to serving humanity as a motive or purpose
I am convinced that if we invite students starting at a very young age to be moral philosophers – to ask the really important questions – we will invite a moral revolution which in turn will lead to honest, open discussions of how we work to help all of us leave more than we take; which will decrease depression, drug abuse, and create spiritual giants to replace people who feel and live as unimportant, invisible beings.
Written May 22, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
I grew up learning that the word moral largely referenced the ten commandments issued by a very jealous and punishing god. Yet I also grew up with the teachings of that Jesus fellow who is reported to have given us the Beatitudes which are sometimes compared to Psalm l:1-6 although I hear them very differently.
When I started or restarted my college career at the University of Maryland I was introduced to the study of moral philosophy and psychology, From Plato to Immanuel Kant to Soren Kierkegaard to Bertram Russell and a host of others I was invited to rethink the purpose of this brief life journey of us humans. In my first graduate school experience I would be invited by the poet and philosopher Walter Kaufman to join 11 other graduate students to explore the concept of justice. On weekends during this time I was invited to join others in prayers at Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. We were praying that the then leaders of these United states might question what it meant to make a moral decision with regards to our involvement in Vietnam. We were also concerned about the moral price of investments which benefited some at the cost of oppressing others.
If I google moral philosophers I get an initial list of 48 only two of which are women. Jacqueline Novogratz is not listed as a moral philosopher but her recent book Toward a Moral Revolution and her work to use financial systems to serve a moral purpose other than making profit certainly qualifies her as a moral philosopher. (Many other women have left a legacy of moral philosophy even if they are not listed as such.)
Ms. Novofgratz was the guest of Krista Tippett host of On Being podcast on May 21, 2020. I urge the reader of this blog to listen to this podcast.
Ms. Novogratz suggests that the golden rule could be “Give more to the world than you take from it.” She was influenced by the nun teacher who suggested to the class to take to heart the reminder “To whom much is given much is expected.”
Once again, on this Friday morning. I am challenged to consider what it means to be human. What is the purpose of this life journey? This automatically leads to the question of who is sacred/worthwhile. Is it true that all men (and women) are created equal? What is my responsibility as a result of my privileged position? Does my privileged position indicate the amount in my bank account, the fact that I am physically abled, the fact that I have a job I enjoy, or the fact that I have wise spiritual teachers?
A friend of mine has a friend who was grateful to stand in line in the hot sun for a $40.00 check for his aged mother. Two other friends purchase houses which they rent out to others for a very low amount and then find lots of other ways to give of their money, time, and energy to others in the community. Another friend is in the process of purchasing a house outside his condo association so that he can provide individuals with a felon history and have little money a safe, comfortable home. Ms. Novogratz talks about an organization which has made it possible for 100 million people to have electricity. Friends of mine in two local businesses hire people who need a second chance or a third chance.
Economic systems are not moral or immoral. They are tools. A shovel is a tool. If I am using a shove hide an unkind deed it is not serving a moral purpose. If I am using that same shovel to plant a garden to help feed my family and others it is serving a moral purpose. Ms. Novogratz suggests that we could switch from thinking of ourselves as consumers to thinking of ourselves as citizens; from thinking of profit as a motive to serving humanity as a motive or purpose
I am convinced that if we invite students starting at a very young age to be moral philosophers – to ask the really important questions – we will invite a moral revolution which in turn will lead to honest, open discussions of how we work to help all of us leave more than we take; which will decrease depression, drug abuse, and create spiritual giants to replace people who feel and live as unimportant, invisible beings.
Written May 22, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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