The Strategy of Individual Obligation

Abstract

Everything in the universe bears in some way on the individual. Forces are at work on him of which in most cases he is unaware. At the present time it would be altogether impossible to make a computer analysis of all the elements which could and should be brought to bear on the making of any single moral decision. It is difficult to evaluate any given situation; for the values involved are many in every case and they all belong to a value-system the dimensions of which still remain largely unknown. Thus moral decisions must be left for the time being to other means Some progress, however, can be made. It is only by increasing his knowledge that he can hope to think about the extent of his involvement and if possible to choose the preferred course of action. In this sense Socrates is right that knowledge is virtue, since increased knowledge leads at least to the possibility of increased virtue; and Dewey is right that leading the moral life presupposes an activity of inquiry. The requisite for the solution of any problem, then, is understanding. We must first know what the problem is and then consider the proper method of solving it. What should we do and what tools do we have at hand for doing it?