One peculiarity of our present [ethical] climate is that…
![“One peculiarity of our present [ethical] climate is that we care much more about our rights than about our 'good'. For previous thinkers about ethics, such as those who wrote the Upanishads, or Confucius, or Plato, or the founders of the Christian tradition, the central concern was the state of…” quote by Simon Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/ccf/simon-blackburn-14689_character_one-peculiarity-of-our-present-ethical-c_1739110.jpg)
““One peculiarity of our present [ethical] climate is that we care much more about our rights than about our 'good'. For previous thinkers about ethics, such as those who wrote the Upanishads, or Confucius, or Plato, or the founders of the Christian tradition, the central concern was the state of one's soul, meaning some personal state of justice or harmony. Such a state might include resignation or renunciation, or detachment, or obedience, or knowledge, especially self-knowledge. For Plato there could be no just political order except one populated by just citizens… Today we tend not to believe that; we tend to think that modern constitutional democracies are fine regardless of the private vices of those within them. We are much more nervous talking about our good: it seems moralistic, or undemocratic, or elitist. Similarly, we are nervous talking about duty. The Victorian ideal of a life devoted to duty, or a calling, is substantially lost to us. So a greater proportion of our moral energy goes to protecting claims against each other, and that includes protecting the state of our soul as purely private, purely our own business.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern societies prioritize individual rights over personal moral development, neglecting the cultivation of virtue and inner harmony.
In simple terms: We focus on rights, not goodness.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate personal virtue alongside defending rights.
Themes
ethics
individualism
virtue
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- public policy
- personal development
- community building
- civic engagement
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does a good life mean to you?
- How can societies encourage virtue without infringing rights?
A Different Perspective
Balancing rights and virtue can be politically contentious.