Character Quote by Timothy Keller
“The common moral framework: Do anything as long as it does no harm to others. Problem: Whose definition of harm?”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Reason for God, Timothy Keller, 2008
A moral rule to avoid harming others is proposed, but defining “harm” is contested.
In simple terms: Avoiding harm is a basic moral guideline.
Key Takeaway
Clarify what counts as harm.
Themes
ethics
morality
harm
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- lawmaking
- interpersonal conflicts
- social policy
Key Concepts
subjectivity
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide what is harmful?
- Can a universal harm principle work?
A Different Perspective
Different cultures may disagree on what constitutes harm.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
