Morality as Goal

Goal setting is a daunting task - just asking someone what their goals are can open a door to a whole new and unpredictable world of opportunity. The open-endedness of the question can be enough to send even the most ambitious dreamer in to retreat. So what about those who do not regularly or easily contemplate their potential? How difficult it can be for some to articulate any bigger ambition than surviving the day! So I propose the following goal setting baseline: Do not think about what you COULD do, start by considering what you OUGHT to do.

In The Moral Sense, Wilson approaches the term "ought" as something so integral to the human experience that it can not be defined. At the same time, Wilson reminds us that we are not all ready to admit that our core values guide our actions for fear of appearing intolerant or old-fashoned. However, even if it has fallen out of fashion to "discuss" morality, Wilson demonstrates that there are undoubtedly basic lines which all humans innately know should not be crossed. Wilson's examples of how violence is still "newsworthy", of the relatively low rates of infanticide, and of repeat offendors still wanting more for their children seem to prove that all of us must have an internal, unspoken moral compass that guides many of our actions.

If we all have the tendancy toward behaving "sympathetically" or fairly, and if the end result of these actions is that society is better off, could this "morality" be put to good use for developing community? I propose that we might challenge ourselves and our families to strive for better for ourselves and for each other because it will be better for the community as a whole. If we can encourage someone to improve their own conditition as a way to contribute to their community, they have more motivation than just their own success to keep going. Similar results have been acheived in "buddy-system" weight loss and excersise regimens, when one dieter continues in order to not let their buddy down.

The challenge is to gain audience with those most likely to be persuaded by this appeal to their morality. How do you communicate the morality message to community and family influencers? I believe you can get part of the way by appealing to the sense of kinship that Wilson found among the most striking facts about human societies - the family bond. If we can educate parents as to what "they ought to do" to acheive the most benefit for their community and family, then they have an instant set of goals for their family from which to build upon for the future.