Do you think that the concious cognitive reasoning in being a good person and choosing the noble deed is more?

Question

important than the feeling or inclination to behave justly?for example, sometimes perhaps we are all prone to feelings of envy or jealousy or some such trait , but it is in the concious rational overcoming of that emotion that determines our character and worth,so that acting in envy makes you lesser but experiencing envy but recognising how wrong and destructive and cruel it would be to act on it makes you better and more?so if someone does good merely because they feel like being good at that moment is intrinsically less valuable as it is arbitrary and capricious while someone who always conciously chooses the good is more valuable as they have made a lofty decision to do so?okay crazy insane question I know!!and not based on any university prescribed ethics!

Hopefully someone understands where my serpentine ramblings go!

an argument between the rational mind choosing to do good out of self discipline or your whimsical fancies!which is more enduring and more important?

Answer 1

That is what Socrates, Plato and Aristotle (among many others) insisted so much upon, that we must learn to know ourselves and to consciously choose the good for sake of the good itself, and not for the accidental good that comes with it, which is but the accidental means to achieve the "summum bonum" or highest good. The good for good itself. this is what defines and makes one a moral person.

Answer 2

Wow, great question.

For the person that overcomes an immoral thought, it is a battle that was waged and won. But it was not a natural inclination to do right and it is presumable that there will be more battles in the future especially if some imagined reward or natural benefit fails to materialize or in doing what is just one is punished for it, there is the chance that in future battles one may give into temptaions.

Versus the one whose instinct is to do good, regardless of the cost. There is no thought to act unjustly or immoraly, but a reaction even if painful in cost to do what is right. But will this person, also in time, be subject to a question of decision when a similar situation occurs as in the above.

And are they the same person along a path of life slowly sliding into doubt or through habit acting impulsively to do what is right?

Answer 3

judge and motives

We have issues with motivators. Which ones are we listening to and acting upon? There are good reasons and bad reasons to do the same action. Does it really matter if we do a good deed for a bad reason. Taking up writing in a journal out of spite for example. That is how we lost the I if we can reach some kind of consensus with out having to pass a harsh judgment then it is us. If we have to choose from the lesser of evils so to speak then it is I.

Answer 4

Actually, the two (feelings and mentation) work hand-in-hand.

The cognition has a "noble" moral/ethical goal, and shepherds the childish emotion (energy-in-motion) to the joy of childlike love.

In turn, the cognition is part of the childlike joy and love, not merely stand-offish or cold or arid, without positive, higher feeling.

"A Philosophy of Universality," O. M. Aivanhov, "Men in White Apparel," Ann Ree Colton, "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, "When Invisible Children Sing," Dr. Huang, "Expecting Adam," Martha Beck, "Testimony of Light," Helen Greaves, "Life before Life," Jim Tucker, M.D., and "Babies Remember Birth," David Chamberlain, Ph.D., speak to this higher oneness.

best regards,

j.

Answer 5

Indeed, I do believe it is more important. Doing the right thing when the darker sides of our nature suggest a different path is the mark of the ethical individual. When the right thing and the pleasing thing are the same, ethics are not needed. It is when they are distinct that we find our inner strength and learn to place our highest values above our immediate desires.

Answer 6

Newcastle 1 Liverpool 6. No worries!

Answer 7

I believe the conscious cognitive mind is where our whimsical/not so whimsical self lies. At times I believe they have conversations with each other, so that is how we make our decisions. I call the cognitive mind the parent and the whimsical/not so whimsical part the kid. The parent mind always pushes us to do noble deeds; only at times our whimsical/not so whimsical selves refuse to listen at all.

Answer 8

A person that desires evil all the time but chooses to do good is evil at heart but good in action. Likewise, a person that desires good all the time, but chooses evil in action, is evil in action but good at heart.

Just as choosing to do evil even if you desire good makes you little bit worse of a person, so choosing to do good even if you desire evil makes you a little bit better better of a person. But both of them are neutral.

The gain in "goodness" in the contrast of one choosing good while desiring evil is not greater than the gain in "badness" by someone choosing to do evil while desiring good. But they are equal. So it does not make a person a super great person because they do good with evil desire, just as much as it doesn't make a person a super bad person because they do bad with good desire.

To be a total good person you have to change your heart as well as your mind. You have to want to do good and choose to do good as a creator will look at both your intentions and actions.

Ultimately, choosing to do good is the main thing because you can desire all you want but if you don't affect by action the "good" is not complete. Also, in the real world what people do is actually according to one's desires and wishes, and so the heart is just as important, which is where it all comes from and reveals the true person behind the actions.

Answer 9

It is conscious cognitive reasoning that leads us to behave justly. It does not lead us to the "noble" deed, unless that deed is just. Conscious cognitive reasoning is called "ethical egoism" or "rational self-interest."

Answer 10

We can't help how we feel and it's okay to feel it but we must do the right thing and realize what we feel and how to handle it properly.