Moral Judgments Quote by Kenneth Minogue
““The evident problem with democracy today is that the state is pre-empting—or “crowding out,” as the economists say—our moral judgments. Rulers are adding moral judgments to the expanding schedule of powers they exercise. Nor does the state deal merely with principles. It is actually telling its subjects to do very specific things. Yet decisions about how we live are what we mean by “freedom,” and freedom is incompatible with a moralizing state. That is why I am provoked to ask the question: can the moral life survive democracy?””
About This Quote
Source Book: Democracy and the Moral Life, Kenneth Minogue, 1995
The state increasingly dictates moral choices, crowding out individual freedom and moral autonomy, raising doubt about moral life under democracy.
In simple terms: The government tells us what to do, limiting personal moral freedom.
Key Takeaway
Protect personal moral judgment from state overreach.
Themes
democracy
freedom
morality
state power
individual autonomy
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- citizen voting
- ethical decision making
- civil disobedience
Key Concepts
political philosophy
ethical autonomy
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- Can individuals maintain moral integrity within democratic institutions?
- What mechanisms safeguard moral autonomy?
A Different Perspective
The state may still protect rights and promote common good despite moral regulation.
![“Their [realists'] concern is that utopian aspirations towards a new peaceful world order will simply absolutize conflicts and make them more intractable. National interests are in some degree negotiable; rights, in principle, are not. International organizations such as the United Nations have not…” quote by Kenneth Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/93f/kenneth-minogue-28215_bringing-peace_their-realists-concern-is-that-utopian-a_516332.jpg)
