Philosophy: There is no reason to be good
DGS ran a Philosophy, Politics and Economics essay competition in summer 2023. Our students were tasked with answering a question that probed into one of the areas of PPE. The best essays were ones that argued clearly and concisely. To see for yourself, please read on below!
Winner of the Philosophy category: Sahib G, 7B
Philosophy is a branch of study that attempts to understand the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and knowledge. One of the central questions that philosophers have grappled with throughout history is the question of morality. What is the basis for ethical behaviour, and why should we strive to be good?
The sentence "There is no good reason for us to be good" is a provocative statement that challenges many of our assumptions about morality. It suggests that there is no inherent reason why we should behave ethically or morally, and that any attempts to do so are ultimately futile.
At first glance, this statement seems to be at odds with many of our deeply held beliefs. Most of us would agree that it is important to be good, to treat others with kindness and respect, and to act in a way that is consistent with our moral values. But why is this the case? What motivates us to behave in this way?
One possible answer is that we are motivated by a desire for personal gain. We may be good because we believe that it will lead to positive outcomes for ourselves, such as increased happiness, social acceptance, or material rewards. However, this explanation raises the question of whether our ethical behaviour is truly altruistic, or simply a means to an end.
Another possible explanation is that we are motivated by a sense of duty or obligation. We may feel that it is our moral responsibility to behave in a certain way, regardless of any personal benefits we may receive. This view is often associated with the philosopher Immanuel Kant, who argued that ethical behaviour must be motivated by a sense of duty to universal moral principles, rather than by personal desire.
However, the statement "There is no good reason for us to be good" challenges even this view. If there is no inherent reason why we should behave ethically, then why should we feel a sense of duty or obligation to do so?
One possible response to this challenge is to argue that ethical behaviour is not necessarily motivated by reason alone. Rather, it may be a product of our social and cultural conditioning. We are taught from an early age to behave in a certain way, and we internalise these values and beliefs as part of our identity. In this sense, ethical behaviour may be more a matter of habit or tradition than a product of rational deliberation.
Another possible response is to argue that ethical behaviour is motivated by a deeper sense of purpose or meaning. We may feel that there is a transcendent or spiritual dimension to our lives, and that ethical behaviour is a way of connecting with this dimension. In this view, being good is not simply a matter of personal gain or duty, but a way of participating in something larger than ourselves.
In conclusion, the statement "There is no good reason for us to be good" challenges many of our assumptions about morality. While there may be no single, definitive answer to this question, it is clear that the search for meaning and purpose is a central concern of philosophy, and one that will continue to engage thinkers for generations to come. Ultimately, the question of why we should be good may be less important than the question of what it means to live a good life, and how we can best cultivate the virtues that lead us towards that goal.