honesty,compassion,generosity are they inexplicably linked?

Germain Hass May 28, 2018 at 13:57 1825 views 2 comments

There is great inequality in the world today. I have observed with great amusement that the rich who would be of service to the poor tend to be honest,not compassionate and not generous.

The poor on the other hand tend to be honest,compassionate and generous.

I am aware i have sweeping generalization but i have to ask, if the three (honesty,compassion,generosity) are inexplicably linked to one another.

Comments (2)

Galuchat May 29, 2018 at 08:54 #183327 0 likes

Reply to Germain Hass

From Weil, Simone. (1952). The Need For Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London:

1) "The fulfilment of one's moral responsibility has a beneficent impact on human character."

2) "The liberty of men of goodwill, though limited in the sphere of action, is complete in that of conscience. For, having incorporated the rules into their own being, the prohibited possibilities no longer present themselves to the mind, and have not to be rejected."

Extrapolating from Weil, I think that self-judgement (i.e., self-commendation or self-condemnation) has psychological and corporeal effects which provide an incentive for moral conduct. To wit,

The Effects of Self Commendation:
1) Peace
2) Confidence
3) Innocence
4) Joy
5) Self Esteem
6) Reinforcement of Moral Conduct
7) Development of Virtues
8) Good Corporeal and Mental Health

The Effects of Self Condemnation:
1) Anxiety
2) Embarrassment
3) Guilt
4) Remorse
5) Shame
6) Neglect of Introspection
7) Development of Vices
8) Corporeal Disability-Illness and Mental Disability-Illness

Marcus de Brun May 29, 2018 at 09:07 #183330 0 likes

I would suggest that rich people tend to be more dishonest than poor people because it requires a bit more dishonesty to justify ones extra share of the earths material resource.

I think these virtues that you describe, are entirely self serving for the vast majority of people, take charity for example, this practice ostensibly includes a degree of honesty, compassion and generosity, however for the most part 'charity' is generally a more morally selfish act and a more socially destructive act than ambivalence might otherwise be.

Oscar Wilde wrote a great essay on the subject entitled 'The Soul of Man Under Socialism', and Zizek refers to the work in the following clip, which is fairly well known and is most entertaining.

https://youtu.be/hpAMbpQ8J7g