I think the "two notions that get us in trouble" at the end of the post are in substance spot on, but with regard to the framing of the second—"ends justify the means"—I have an observation to make, which is that ends often do justify means. Just think of criminal justice, where severe punishments are inflicted on those found to be guilty of committing serious crimes. This is in service of an important end, justice, and that end justifies the means: the harm inflicted. I think the expression, "the ends don't justify the means," has plausibility because people are thinking of material ends, and they mean to say that the pursuit of material goods doesn't justify cutting moral corners. But when the ends are themselves moral—as in the criminal justice example—the calculus changes. The moral end of justice licenses inflicting harm that would normally be highly immoral. Moral ends determine the moral status of the means! And the ends you cite are all of that kind: "welfare of the downtrodden/ our way of life/ patriotism/ social justice/ MY God’s way/ egalitarian society". You say, "all moral compasses are safely put away," but—ironically—those who do evil very often have their eyes glued to their moral compasses! No doubt, many people's moral compasses do not indicate true north. The point remains that "morality," not neglect of morals, is what justifies and indeed drives much or even most violence. Bad morals, not amorality, are the problem.
Thanks for this thoughtful piece Reena. Yes, when we “other” a group, a particular kind of person, a practice, we lose our ability to see the people involved as human. And then, unfortunately, we can do whatever we want to them much more easily. We do not see them as ourselves, and I would argue, as you do, that we do not see ourselves. It’s so important to look at our own hearts, do our own work, and to have compassion for ourselves so that we can extend it to others. Thank you!
You did not mention the gentiles who saved Jews. They didn’t go along with the group think. They had morals and risked their own lives to save others. While you mention quotes about how all of us are capable of evil I respectfully disagree.
While some Nazis were disenchanted with murdering women and children, Hamas had no problem burning children alive. Evil persists today. There’s a new type of Nazi in town, they are well funded by Iran. Sigh.
Thank you Reena for such a well-written and timely piece.
Your poem and post so well-articulated what I have felt to be fundamental to the social deterioration we're all seeing. It hangs on the sense that we're right and they're wrong and wrong of course has to be extracted or extinguished for the betterment of humanity. But the foundation of that is all wrong. As you pointed out in the profound quote of Solzhenitsyn, evil and good have their own places in each of us. But which one do we nourish? Which one do we allow to take the reins?
The post that I published ten minutes earlier is about one incident and my own personal struggle between wisdom and cowardice - literally "when evil came to town."
I think the "two notions that get us in trouble" at the end of the post are in substance spot on, but with regard to the framing of the second—"ends justify the means"—I have an observation to make, which is that ends often do justify means. Just think of criminal justice, where severe punishments are inflicted on those found to be guilty of committing serious crimes. This is in service of an important end, justice, and that end justifies the means: the harm inflicted. I think the expression, "the ends don't justify the means," has plausibility because people are thinking of material ends, and they mean to say that the pursuit of material goods doesn't justify cutting moral corners. But when the ends are themselves moral—as in the criminal justice example—the calculus changes. The moral end of justice licenses inflicting harm that would normally be highly immoral. Moral ends determine the moral status of the means! And the ends you cite are all of that kind: "welfare of the downtrodden/ our way of life/ patriotism/ social justice/ MY God’s way/ egalitarian society". You say, "all moral compasses are safely put away," but—ironically—those who do evil very often have their eyes glued to their moral compasses! No doubt, many people's moral compasses do not indicate true north. The point remains that "morality," not neglect of morals, is what justifies and indeed drives much or even most violence. Bad morals, not amorality, are the problem.
A nice essay on this appeared in Aeon in 2015: "How Could They?", by Tage Rai. (https://aeon.co/essays/people-resort-to-violence-because-their-moral-codes-demand-it)
Thanks for this thoughtful piece Reena. Yes, when we “other” a group, a particular kind of person, a practice, we lose our ability to see the people involved as human. And then, unfortunately, we can do whatever we want to them much more easily. We do not see them as ourselves, and I would argue, as you do, that we do not see ourselves. It’s so important to look at our own hearts, do our own work, and to have compassion for ourselves so that we can extend it to others. Thank you!
Powerful poem.
You did not mention the gentiles who saved Jews. They didn’t go along with the group think. They had morals and risked their own lives to save others. While you mention quotes about how all of us are capable of evil I respectfully disagree.
While some Nazis were disenchanted with murdering women and children, Hamas had no problem burning children alive. Evil persists today. There’s a new type of Nazi in town, they are well funded by Iran. Sigh.
Beautiful. Very well said, highly relevant to what’s happening in the world and most importantly, makes one do some serious introspection.
Thank you Reena for such a well-written and timely piece.
Your poem and post so well-articulated what I have felt to be fundamental to the social deterioration we're all seeing. It hangs on the sense that we're right and they're wrong and wrong of course has to be extracted or extinguished for the betterment of humanity. But the foundation of that is all wrong. As you pointed out in the profound quote of Solzhenitsyn, evil and good have their own places in each of us. But which one do we nourish? Which one do we allow to take the reins?
The post that I published ten minutes earlier is about one incident and my own personal struggle between wisdom and cowardice - literally "when evil came to town."