What philosopher said this?: "To think correctly is itself a moral act." What Do you think that Quote means?

Question

Sorry, but it is a two-part Q.

'Huxley is restating Socrates' assertion that truly knowing good leaves the person that truly knows good no choice but to do good." Yes, but in your own words: "What Do you! think that Quote means? "

Answer 1

A Huxley quote.

Thought precedes any deed. Thus the first part of an act is the thought that precedes it. Correct thought is the beginning of a moral deed. To follow correct thought with the correct deed completes the cycle of one moral act.

The act cannot exist without the thought. Fruition of thought is only realized with the act.

Blessings and peace to all.
All in all,
Nony

Answer 2

Found the full quote - it is from Aldous Huxley's "Olive Tree" (page 83).

The full quote is as follows:

"To think correctly is the condition of behaving well. It is also in itself a moral act; those who think correctly must resist considerable temptations."

Huxley is restating Socrates' assertion that truly knowing good leaves the person that truly knows good no choice but to do good.

Update: I think that Huxley is attempting to state that being "correctly wired" is the basis for all good - which is to say, being able to rationally approach thinking allows us to know good in the first place, and all morally-correct action follows from the pursuit of well-reasoned and well-intentioned thinking.

Personally, I disagree with Huxley - being a pragmatist and a hard determinist, I see a great level of bias in the idea that one may think "correctly". People think however they are actually wired to think - that which is "correct" is the thinking which allows them to achieve their own ends, not the ends of an observer who is dissociated from the decision and wishes to pass moral judgment.

Answer 3

I'm not sure who said it but it sounds like something Votaire would say. I think it mean that one person's opinion about what is "correct" could be totally different from another, so thus it depends on the morality of the person making the decision if their final decision is correct or incorrect (hopefully that sentence made sence lol, I'm on a lot of pain meds right now.) For expample, a person may get an abortion because they feel they could not give proper care for the child and they do not want to force society the burdon of taking care of it for her. For that woman, that would be the correct decision in her mind, but for other woman who are agains abortion if given the choice to have an abortion or not they would consider the abortion choice the incorrect one.

Answer 4

William James said it, in The Principles of Psychology (1890).

The actual quote is: "To sustain a representation, to think, is, in short, the only moral act, for the impulsive and the obstructed, for sane and lunatics alike."

His point was that the key task for us as moral agents is the focusing of our attention. I may need to get up at a certain time in the morning to get a job done. Ah, but the simple act of rolling over and getting out of bed requires that I focus on doing so. There are much more interesting pleasant subjects of focus -- the warmth of the blankets, for example, and the pleasant possibility that my early morning duties might turn out to be not so important after all.

If I sustain the thought, keep the focus, on getting out of bed and on with my day, and assuming of course that my nervous system is in a healthy state -- I will get out of bed.

Likewise with the rest of the day. Sustaining a representation, focusing my thoughts ... that is the key.

You can read the relevant chapter in James' book via the link below.

Answer 5

There is right thinking or clear sight & all that it is not is error. I can truly believe error is correct, but my belief will not make it so really. Once I actually see the truth of a situation it does change my behavior. So, if this is true, then can there really be any evil people, or are they just people who are deluded, unaware of the truth?

Answer 6

Rene Descartes said it.

He was arguing that you do not need a higher power to live a moral life. That thinking the correct thing naturally lead to a moral life.

Answer 7

Thoughts that result in kindness, compassion, love, respect, patience etc etc towards others are moral / correct and brings happiness to both giver and receiver.

Negative thoughts result in war, hate, prejudice, tyranny, etc etc unhappy / immoral actions.

Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You. The greatest quote ever given.

Answer 8

Corrective thinking is moral action, i.e. self correction. Perhaps Plato or Socrates, but most good philosophers would say that, or at least agree to it.

Answer 9

Incorrect thinking produces immoral acts: murder, theft, genocide, etc.