Jacques Maritain, in Man and the State, makes the comment that “Moralists are unhappy people. When they insist on the immutability of moral principles, they are reproached for imposing unlivable requirements on us.”
I dare to modify Maritain’s employment of the word “unhappy”. Perhaps “frustrated,” even at times, “exasperated,” would be a better choice. But I do think that the committed moralist presses on despite the resistances he encounters because he understands the importance of his vocation.
Happiness is not his immediate concern; helping others is. The moralist must suffer reproach if he is to achieve results.
Nonetheless, Maritain touches upon three points, in these two sentences, that seem to have more relevance today than they had when the great Catholic philosopher wrote them more than sixty years ago.
Nonetheless, Maritain touches upon three points, in these two sentences, that seem to have more relevance today than they had when the great Catholic philosopher wrote them more than sixty years ago.
The first centers on the word “immutability”. The majority of citizens of the modern world regard “progress” as axiomatic. Consequently the notion that any moral principles could be “immutable” appears archaic, old-fashioned, out of step with the advancing tide. Progress has certainly taken place in the sciences. But the sciences build on a body of agreed upon knowledge that has already proven itself useful. Morality, on the other hand, begins anew with each individual human being. In addition, to be moral requires a choice, one that rests on the frailty of human freedom. As history shows, the mores of the times fluctuates from age to age, and by no means is a consistent vector that always moves in a forward direction.
................
................
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario