Human Nature and Conduct

John Dewey
http://www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Dewey/Dewey_1922/Dewey1922_05.htm !"ajado e 2# de a$o%to de 2011&

Originally published as:

John Dewey. '(u%tom and )ab*t+' Human Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to Social Psychology. ,ew -ork: Modern .*brary /19220: 51234.

Part 1: The Place of Habit in Conduct: IV. Custom and Habit

5e o6ten 6ancy that *n%t*tut*on%+ %oc*a cu%tom+ co ect*7e hab*t+ ha7e been 6ormed by the con%o *dat*on o6 *nd*7*dua hab*t%. 8n the ma*n th*% %uppo%*t*on *% 6a %e to 6act. 9o a con%*derab e e:tent cu%tom%+ or w*de%pread un*6orm*t*e% o6 hab*t+ e:*%t becau%e *nd*7*dua % 6ace the %ame %*tuat*on and react *n *ke 6a%h*on. "ut to a ar$er e:tent cu%tom% per%*%t becau%e *nd*7*dua % 6orm the*r per%ona hab*t% under cond*t*on% %et by pr*or cu%tom%. ;n *nd*7*dua u%ua y ac<u*re% the mora *ty a% he *nher*t% the %peech o6 h*% %oc*a $roup. 9he act*7*t*e% o6 the $roup are a ready there+ and %ome a%%*m* at*on o6 h*% own act% to the*r pattern *% a prere<u*%*te o6 a %hare there*n+ and hence o6 ha7*n$ any part *n what *% $o*n$ on. =ach per%on *% born an *n6ant+ and e7ery *n6ant *% %ubject 6rom the 6*r%t breath he draw% and the 6*r%t cry he utter% to the attent*on% and demand% o6 other%. 9he%e other% are not ju%t per%on% *n $enera w*th m*nd% *n $enera . 9hey are be*n$% w*th hab*t%+ and be*n$% who upon the who e e%teem the hab*t% they ha7e+ *6 6or no other rea%on than that+ ha7*n$ d*em+ the*r *ma$*nat*on *% thereby *m*ted. 9he nature o6 hab*t *% to be a%%ert*7e+ *n%*%tent+ %e 62 perpetuat*n$. 9here *% no m*rac e *n the 6act that *6 a ch* d earn% any an$ua$e he earn% the an$ua$e that tho%e about h*m %peak and teach+ e%pec*a y %*nce h*% ab* *ty to %peak that an$ua$e *% a pre2cond*t*on o6 ( !" h*% enter*n$ *nto e66ect*7e connect*on w*th them+ mak*n$ want% known and $ett*n$ them %at*%6*ed. >ond parent and re at*7e% 6re<uent y p*ck up a 6ew o6 the ch* d?% %pontaneou% mode% o6 %peech and 6or a t*me at ea%t they are port*on% o6 the %peech o6 the $roup. "ut the rat*o wh*ch %uch word% bear to the tota 7ocabu ary *n u%e $*7e% a 6a*r mea%ure o6 the part p ayed by pure y *nd*7*dua hab*t *n 6orm*n$ cu%tom *n compar*%on w*th the part p ayed by cu%tom *n 6orm*n$ *nd*7*dua hab*t%. >ew per%on% ha7e e*ther the ener$y or the wea th to bu* d pr*7ate road% to tra7e upon. 9hey 6*nd *t con7en*ent+ 'natura +' to u%e the road% that are a ready there@ wh* e un e%% the*r pr*7ate road% connect at %ome po*nt w*th the h*$h2way they cannot bu* d them e7en *6 they wou d. 9he%e %*mp e 6act% %eem to me to $*7e a %*mp e e:p anat*on o6 matter% that are o6ten %urrounded w*th my%tery. 9o ta k about the pr*or*ty o6 '%oc*ety' to the *nd*7*dua *% to *ndu $e *n non%en%*ca metaphy%*c%+ "ut to %ay that %ome pre2e:*%tent a%%oc*at*on o6 human be*n$% *% pr*or to e7ery part*cu ar human be*n$ who *% born *nto the wor d *% to ment*on a commonp ace. 9he%e a%%oc*at*on% are de6*n*te mode% o6 *nteract*on o6 per%on% w*th one another@ that *% to %ay they 6orm cu%tom%+ *n%t*tut*on%. 9here *% no prob em *n a h*%tory %o art*6*c*a a% that o6 how '*nd*7*dua %' mana$e to 6orm '%oc*ety.' 9he prob em *% due to the p ea%ure taken *n man*pu at*n$ concept%+ and d*%cu%%*on $oe% %*n becau%e concept% are kept 6rom *ncon7en*ent contact w*th 6act%. 9he 6act% o6 *n6ancy and %e: ha7e (#$" on y to be ca ed to m*nd to %ee how manu6actured are the concept*on% wh*ch enter *nto th*% part*cu ar prob em. 9he prob em+ howe7er+ o6 how tho%e e%tab *%hed and more or e%% deep y $roo7ed %y%tem% o6 *nteract*on wh*ch we ca %oc*a $roup%+ b*$ and %ma + mod*6y the act*7*t*e% o6 *nd*7*dua % who per6orce are cau$ht2up w*th*n them+ and how the act*7*t*e% o6 component *nd*7*dua % remake and red*rect pre7*ou% y e%tab *%hed cu%tom% *% a deep y %*$n*6*cant one. A*ewed 6rom the %tandpo*nt o6 1

cu%tom and *t% pr*or*ty to the 6ormat*on o6 hab*t% *n human be*n$% who are born bab*e% and $radua y $row to matur*ty+ the 6act% wh*ch are now u%ua y a%%emb ed under the concept*on% o6 co ect*7e m*nd%+ $roup2m*nd%+ nat*ona 2m*nd%+ crowd2m*nd%+ etc.+ etc.+ o%e the my%ter*ou% a*r they e:ha e when m*nd *% thou$ht o6 /a% orthodo: p%ycho o$y teache% u% to th*nk o6 *t0 a% %ometh*n$ wh*ch precede% act*on. 8t *% d*66*cu t to %ee that co ect*7e m*nd mean% anyth*n$ more than a cu%tom brou$ht at %ome po*nt to e:p *c*t+ emphat*c con%c*ou%ne%%+ emot*ona or *nte ectua .%1& (#1" 9he 6am* y *nto wh*ch one *% born *% a 6am* y *n a 7* a$e or c*ty wh*ch *nteract% w*th other more or e%% *nte$rated %y%tem% o6 act*7*ty+ and wh*ch *nc ude% a d*7er%*ty o6 $roup*n$% w*th*n *t%e 6+ %ay+ churche%+ po *t*ca part*e%+ c ub%+ c *<ue%+ partner%h*p%+ trade2un*on%+ corporat*on%+ etc. 86 we %tart w*th the trad*t*ona not*on o6 m*nd a% %ometh*n$ comp ete *n *t%e 6+ then we may we be perp e:ed by the prob em o6 how a common m*nd+ common way% o6 6ee *n$ and be *e7*n$ and purpo%*n$+ come% *nto e:*%tence and then 6orm% the%e $roup%. 9he ca%e *% <u*te otherw*%e *6 we reco$n*Be that *n any ca%e we mu%t %tart w*th $rouped act*on+ that *%+ w*th %ome 6a*r y %ett ed %y%tem o6 *nteract*on amon$ *nd*7*dua %. 9he prob em o6 or*$*n and de7e opment o6 the 7ar*ou% $roup*n$%+ or de6*n*te cu%tom%+ *n e:*%tence at any part*cu ar t*me *n any part*cu ar p ace *% not %o 7ed by re6erence to p%ych*c cau%e%+ e ement%+ 6orce%. 8t *% to be %o 7ed by re6erence to 6act% o6 act*on+ demand 6or 6ood+ 6or hou%e%+ 6or a (#'" mate+ 6or %ome one to ta k to and to *%ten to one ta k+ 6or contro o6 other%+ demand% wh*ch are a *nten%*6*ed by the 6act a ready ment*oned that each per%on be$*n% a he p e%%+ dependent creature. 8 do not mean o6 cour%e that hun$er+ 6ear+ %e:ua o7e+ $re$ar*ou%ne%%+ %ympathy+ parenta o7e+ o7e o6 bo%%*n$ and o6 be*n$ ordered about+ *m*tat*on+ etc.+ p ay no part. "ut 8 do mean that the%e word% do not e:pre%% e ement% or 6orce% wh*ch are p%ych*c or menta *n the*r 6*r%t *ntent*on. 9hey denote ways of behavior. 9he%e way% o6 beha7*n$ *n7o 7e *nteract*on+ that *% to %ay+ and pr*or $roup*n$%. ;nd to under%tand the e:*%tence o6 or$an*Bed way% or hab*t% we %ure y need to $o to phy%*c%+ chem*%try and phy%*o o$y rather than to p%ycho o$y. 9here *% doubt e%% a $reat my%tery a% to why any %uch th*n$ a% be*n$ con%c*ou% %hou d e:*%t at a . "ut *6 con%c*ou%ne%% e:*%t% at a + there *% no my%tery *n *t% be*n$ connected w*th what *t *% connected w*th. 9hat *% to %ay+ *6 an act*7*ty wh*ch *% an *nteract*on o6 7ar*ou% 6actor%+ or a $rouped act*7*ty+ come% to con%c*ou%ne%% *t %eem% natura that *t %hou d take the 6orm o6 an emot*on+ be *e6 or purpo%e that re6 ect% the *nteract*on+ that *t %hou d be an ' our ' con%c*ou%ne%% or a ' my ' con%c*ou%ne%%. ;nd by th*% *% meant both that *t w* be %hared by tho%e who are *mp *cated *n the a%%oc*at*7e cu%tom+ or more or e%% a *ke *t them a + and that *t w* be 6e t or thou$ht to concern other% a% we a% one?% %e 6. ; 6am* y2cu%tom or or$an*Bed hab*t o6 act*on come% *nto contact and con6 *ct 6or e:amp e w*th that o6 %ome other 6am* y. 9he emot*on% o6 ru62 (#(" 26 ed pr*de+ the be *e6 about %uper*or*ty or be*n$ ' a% $ood a% other peop e+' the *ntent*on to ho d one?% own are natura y our 6ee *n$ and *dea o6 our treatment and po%*t*on. Cub%t*tute the Depub *can party or the ;mer*can nat*on 6or the 6am* y and the $enera %*tuat*on rema*n% the %ame. 9he cond*t*on% wh*ch determ*ne the nature and e:tent o6 the part*cu ar $roup*n$ *n <ue%t*on are matter% o6 %upreme *mport. "ut they are not a% %uch %ubject2matter o6 p%ycho o$y+ but o6 the h*%tory o6 po *t*c%+ aw+ re *$*on+ econom*c%+ *n7ent*on+ the techno o$y o6 commun*cat*on and *ntercour%e. P%ycho o$y come% *n a% an *nd*%pen%ab e too . "ut *t enter% *nto the matter o6 under%tand*n$ the%e 7ar*ou% %pec*a top*c%+ not *nto the <ue%t*on o6 what p%ych*c 6orce% 6orm a co ect*7e m*nd and there6ore a %oc*a $roup. 9hat way o6 %tat*n$ the ca%e put% the cart a on$ way be6ore the hor%e+ and natura y $ather% ob%cur*t*e% and my%ter*e% to *t%e 6. 8n %hort+ the pr*mary 6act% o6 %oc*a p%ycho o$y center about co ect*7e hab*t+ cu%tom. 8n add*t*on to the $enera p%ycho o$y o6 hab*t E wh*ch is $enera not *nd*7*dua *n any *nte *$*b e %en%e o6 that word E we need to 6*nd out ju%t how d*66erent cu%tom% %hape the de%*re%+ be *e6%+ purpo%e% o6 tho%e who are a66ected by them. 9he prob em 6 o6 %oc*a p%ycho o$y *% not how e*ther *nd*7*dua or co ect*7e m*nd 6orm% %oc*a $roup% and cu%tom%+ but how d*66erent cu%tom%+ e%tab *%hed *nteract*n$ arran$ement%+ 6orm and nurture d*66erent m*nd%. >rom th*% $enera %tatement we return to our %pec*a prob em+ wh*ch *% how the r*$*d character o6 pa%t cu%tom ha% (#)" un6a7orab y *n6 uenced be *e6%+ emot*on% and purpo%e% ha7*n$ to do w*th mora %. 5e come back to the 6act that *nd*7*dua % be$*n the*r career a% *n6ant%. >or the p a%t*c*ty o6 the youn$ pre%ent% a temptat*on to tho%e ha7*n$ $reater e:per*ence and hence $reater power wh*ch they 2

rare y re%*%t. 8t %eem% putty to be mo ded accord*n$ to current de%*$n%. 9hat p a%t*c*ty a %o mean% power to chan$e pre7a* *n$ cu%tom *% *$nored. Doc* *ty *% ooked upon not a% ab* *ty to earn whate7er the wor d ha% to teach+ but a% %ubject*on to tho%e: *n%truct*on% o6 other% wh*ch re6 ect the*r current hab*t%. 9o be tru y doc* e *% to be ea$er to earn a the e%%on% o6 act*7e+ *n<u*r*n$+ e:pand*n$ e:per*ence. 9he *nert+ %tup*d <ua *ty o6 current cu%tom% per7ert% earn*n$ *nto a w* *n$ne%% to 6o ow where other% po*nt the way+ *nto con6orm*ty+ con%tr*ct*on+ %urrender o6 %cept*c*%m and e:per*ment. 5hen we th*nk o6 the doc* *ty o6 the youn$ we 6*r%t th*nk o6 the %tock% o6 *n6ormat*on adu t% w*%h to *mpo%e and the way% o6 act*n$ they want to reproduce. 9hen we th*nk o6 the *n%o ent coerc*on%+ the *n%*nuat*n$ br*ber*e%+ the peda$o$*c %o emn*t*e% by wh*ch the 6re%hne%% o6 youth can be 6aded and *t% 7*7*d cur*o%*t*e% du ed. =ducat*on become% the art o6 tak*n$ ad7anta$e o6 the he p e%%ne%% o6 the youn$@ the 6orm*n$ o6 hab*t% be come% a $uarantee 6or the ma*ntenance o6 hed$e% o6 cu%tom. F6 cour%e *t *% not who y 6or$otten that hab*t% are ab* *t*e%+ art%. ;ny %tr*k*n$ e:h*b*t*on o6 ac<u*red %k* *n phy%*ca matter%+ *ke that o6 an acrobat or (# " b* *ard2p ayer+ arou%e% un*7er%a adm*rat*on. "ut we *ke to ha7e *nno7at*n$ power *m*ted to techn*ca matter% and re%er7e our adm*rat*on 6or tho%e man*6e%tat*on% that d*%p ay 7*rtuo%*ty rather than 7*rtue. 8n mora matter% *t *% a%%umed that *t *% enou$h *6 %ome *dea ha% been e:emp *6*ed *n the *6e o6 a eader+ %o that *t *% now the part o6 other% to 6o ow and reproduce. >or e7ery branch o6 conduct+ there *% a Je%u% or "uddha+ a ,apo eon or Mar:+ a >roebe or 9o %to*+ who%e pattern o6 act*on+ e:ceed*n$ our own $ra%p+ *% reduced to a pract*cab e copy2%*Be by pa%%a$e throu$h row% and row% o6 e%%er eader%. 9he not*on that *t %u66*ce% *6 the *dea+ the end+ *% pre%ent *n the m*nd o6 %ome author*ty dom*nate% 6orma %choo *n$. 8t permeate% the uncon%c*ou% educat*on der*7ed 6rom ord*nary contact and *ntercour%e. 5here 6o ow*n$ *% taken to be norma + mora or*$*na *ty *% pretty %ure to be eccentr*c. "ut *6 *ndependence were the ru e+ or*$*na *ty wou d be %ubjected to %e7ere+ e:per*menta te%t% and be %a7ed 6rom cranky eccentr*c*ty+ a% *t now *% *n %ay h*$her mathemat*c%. 9he re$*me o6 cu%tom a%%ume% that the outcome *% the %ame whether an *nd*7*dua under%tand% what he *% about or whether he $oe% throu$h certa*n mot*on% wh* e mouth*n$ the word% o6 other% repet*t*on o6 6ormu ae ac*n$ e%teemed o6 $reater *mportance+ upon the who e+ than repet*t*on o6 deed%. 9o %ay what the %ect or c *<ue or c a%% %ay% *% the way o6 pro7*n$ that one a %o under%tand% and appro7e% what the c *<ue c *n$% to. 8n theory+ democracy %hou d be a mean% o6 %t*mu at*n$ or*$*na thou$ht+ (##" and o6 e7ok*n$ act*on de *berate y adju%ted *n ad7ance to cope w*th new 6orce%. 8n 6act *t *% %t* %o *mmature that *t% ma*n e66ect *% to mu t*p y occa%*on% 6or *m*tat*on. 86 pro$re%% *n %p*te o6 th*% 6act *% more rap*d than *n other %oc*a 6orm%+ *t *% by acc*dent+ %*nce the d*7er%*ty o6 mode % con6 *ct w*th one another and thu% $*7e *nd*7*dua *ty a chance *n the re%u t*n$ chao% o6 op*n*on%. (urrent democracy acc a*m% %ucce%% more bo*%terou% y than do other %oc*a 6orm%+ and %urround% 6a* ure w*th a more re7erberat*n$ tra*n o6 echoe%. "ut the pre%t*$e thu% $*7en e:ce ence *% ar$e y ad7ent*t*ou%. 9he ach*e7ement o6 thou$ht attract% other% not %o much *ntr*n%*ca y a% becau%e o6 an em*nence due to mu t*tud*nou% ad7ert*%*n$ and a %warm o6 *m*tator%. =7en *bera th*nker% ha7e treated hab*t a% e%%ent*a y+ not becau%e o6 the character o6 e:*%t*n$ cu%tom%+ con%er7at*7e. 8n 6act on y *n a %oc*ety dom*nated by mode% o6 be *e6 and adm*rat*on 6*:ed by pa%t cu%tom *% hab*t any more con%er7at*7e than *t *% pro$re%%*7e. 8t a depend% upon *t% <ua *ty. )ab*t *% an ab* *ty+ an art+ 6ormed throu$h pa%t e:per*ence. "ut whether an ab* *ty *% *m*ted to repet*t*on o6 pa%t act% adopted to pa%t cond*t*on% or *% a7a* ab e 6or new emer$enc*e% depend% who y upon what k*nd o6 hab*t e:*%t%. 9he tendency to th*nk that on y ' bad ' hab*t% are d*%%er7*ceab e and that bad hab*t% are con7ent*ona y numerab e+ conduce% to make a hab*t% more or e%% bad. >or what make% a hab*t bad *% en% a7ement to o d rut%. 9he common not*on that en% a7ement to $ood end% con7ert% mechan*ca rout*ne *nto $ood *% a (#*" ne$at*on o6 the pr*nc*p e o6 mora $oodne%%. 8t *dent*6*e% mora *ty w*th what wa% %omet*me rat*ona + po%%*b y *n %ome pr*or e:per*ence o6 one?% own+ but more probab y *n the e:per*ence o6 %ome one e %e who *% now b *nd y %et up a% a 6*na author*ty. 9he $enu*ne heart o6 rea%onab ene%% /and o6 $oodne%% *n conduct0 *e% *n e66ect*7e ma%tery o6 the cond*t*on% wh*ch now enter *nto act*on. 9o be %at*%6*ed w*th repeat*n$+ w*th #

tra7er%*n$ the rut% wh*ch *n other cond*t*on% ed to $ood+ *% the %ure%t way o6 creat*n$ care e%%ne%% about pre%ent and actua $ood. (on%*der what happen% to thou$ht when hab*t *% mere y power to repeat act% w*thout thou$ht. 5here doe% thou$ht e:*%t and operate when *t *% e:c uded 6rom hab*tua act*7*t*e%G 8% not %uch thou$ht o6 nece%%*ty %hut out 6rom e66ect*7e power+ 6rom ab* *ty to contro object% and command e7ent%G )ab*t% depr*7ed o6 thou$ht and thou$ht wh*ch *% 6ut* e are two %*de% o6 the %ame 6act. 9o aud hab*t a% con%er7at*7e wh* e pra*%*n$ thou$ht a% the ma*n %pr*n$ o6 pro$re%% *% to take the %ure%t cour%e to mak*n$ thou$ht ab%tru%e and *rre e7ant and pro$re%% a matter o6 acc*dent and cata%trophe. 9he concrete 6act beh*nd the current %eparat*on o6 body and m*nd+ pract*ce and theory+ actua *t*e% and *dea %+ *% prec*%e y th*% %eparat*on /06 hab*t and thou$ht. 9hou$ht wh*ch doe% not e:*%t w*th*n ord*nary hab*t% o6 act*on ack% mean% o6 e:ecut*on. 8n ack*n$ app *cat*on+ *t a %o ack% te%t+ cr*ter*on. )ence *t *% condemned to a %eparate rea m. 86 we try to act upon *t+ our act*on% are c um%y+ 6orced. 8n 6act+ contrary (#+" hab*t% /a% we ha7e a ready %een0 come *nto operat*on and betray our purpo%e. ;6ter a 6ew %uch e:per*ence%+ *t *% %ubcon%c*ou% y dec*ded that thou$ht *% too prec*ou% and h*$h to be e:po%ed to the cont*n$enc*e% o6 act*on. 8t *% re%er7ed 6or %eparate u%e%@ thou$ht 6eed% on y thou$ht not act*on. 8dea % mu%t not run the r*%k o6 contam*nat*on and per7er%*on by contact w*th actua cond*t*on%. 9hou$ht then e*ther re%ort% to %pec*a *Bed and techn*ca matter% *n6 uenc*n$ act*on *n the *brary or aboratory a one+ or e %e *t become% %ent*menta *Bed. Meant*me there are certa*n ' pract*ca ' men who comb*ne thou$ht and hab*t and who are e66ectua . 9he*r thou$ht *% about the*r own ad7anta$e@ and the*r hab*t% corre%pond. 9hey dom*nate the actua %*tuat*on. 9hey encoura$e rout*ne *n other%+ and they a %o %ub%*d*Be %uch thou$ht and earn*n$ a% are kept remote 6rom a66a*r%. 9h*% they ca %u%ta*n*n$ the %tandard o6 the *dea . Cubject*on they pra*%e a% team2%p*r*t+ oya ty+ de7ot*on+ obed*ence+ *ndu%try+ aw2and2order. "ut they temper re%pect 6or aw E by wh*ch they mean the order o6 the e:*%t*n$ %tatu%E on the part o6 other% w*th mo%t %k* 6u and thou$ht6u man*pu at*on o6 *t *n beha 6 o6 the*r own end%. 5h* e they denounce a% %ub7er%*7e anarchy %*$n% o6 *ndependent thou$ht+ o6 th*nk*n$ 6or them%e 7e%+ on the part o6 other% e%t %uch thou$ht d*%turb the cond*t*on% by wh*ch they pro6*t+ they th*nk <u*te *tera y 6or them%e 7e%+ that *%+ o6 them%e 7e%. 9h*% *% the eterna $ame o6 the pract*ca men. )ence *t *% on y by acc*dent that the %eparate and endowed (#!" 'thou$ht' o6 pro6e%%*ona th*nker% eak% out *nto act*on and a66ect% cu%tom. >or th*nk*n$ cannot *t%e 6 e%cape the *n6 uence o6 hab*t+ any more than anyth*n$ e %e human. 86 *t *% not a part o6 ord*nary hab*t%+ then *t *% a %eparate hab*t+ hab*t a on$%*de other hab*t%+ apart 6rom them+ a% *%o ated and *ndurated a% human %tructure perm*t%. 9heory *% a po%%e%%*on o6 the theor*%t+ *nte ect o6 the *nte ectua *%t. 9he %o2ca ed %eparat*on o6 theory and pract*ce mean% *n 6act the %eparat*on o6 two k*nd% o6 pract*ce+ one tak*n$ p ace *n the outdoor wor d+ the other *n the %tudy. 9he hab*t o6 thou$ht command% %ome mater*a % /a% e7ery hab*t mu%t do0 but the mater*a % are techn*ca + book%+ word%. 8dea% are object*6*ed *n act*on but %peech and wr*t*n$ monopo *Be the*r 6*e d o6 act*on. =7en then %ubcon%c*ou% pa*n% are taken to %ee that the word% u%ed are not too w*de y under%tood. 8nte ectua hab*t% *ke other hab*t% demand an en7*ronment+ but the en7*ronment *% the %tudy+ *brary+ aboratory and academy. .*ke other hab*t% they produce e:terna re%u t%+ po%%e%%*on%. Come men ac<u*re *dea% and know ed$e a% other men ac<u*re monetary wea th. 5h* e pract*%*n$ thou$ht 6or the*r own %pec*a end% they deprecate *t 6or the untra*ned and un%tab e ma%%e% 6or whom 'hab*t%+' that *% unth*nk*n$ rout*ne%+ are nece%%*t*e%. 9hey 6a7or popu ar educat*onE up to the po*nt o6 d*%%em*nat*n$ a% matter o6 author*tat*7e *n6ormat*on 6or the many what the 6ew ha7e e%tab *%hed by thou$ht+ and up to the po*nt o6 (*$" con7ert*n$ an or*$*na doc* *ty to the new *nto a doc* *ty to repeat and to con6orm. -et a hab*t *n7o 7e% mechan*Bat*on. )ab*t *% *mpo%%*b e w*thout %ett*n$ up a mechan*%m o6 act*on+ phy%*o o$*ca y en$ra*ned+ wh*ch operate% ' %pontaneou% y+' automat*ca y+ whene7er the cue *% $*7en. "ut mechan*Bat*on *% not o6 nece%%*ty a there *% to hab*t. (on%*der the cond*t*on% under wh*ch the 6*r%t %er7*ceab e ab* *t*e% o6 *6e are 6ormed. 5hen a ch* d be$*n% to wa k he acute y ob%er7e%+ he *ntent y and *nten%e y e:per*ment%. )e ook% to %ee what *% $o*n$ to happen and he 4

keep% cur*ou% watch on e7ery ?*nc*dent. 5hat other% do+ the a%%*%tance they $*7e+ the mode % they %et+ operate not a% *m*tat*on% but a% encoura$ement% to h*% own act%+ re*n6orcement% o6 per%ona percept*on and endea7or. 9he 6*r%t todd *n$ *% a romant*c ad7entur*n$ *nto the unknown@ and e7ery $a*ned power *% a de *$ht6u d*%co7ery o6 one?% own power% and o6 the wonder% o6 the wor d. 5e may not be ab e to reta*n *n adu t hab*t% th*% Be%t o6 *nte *$ence and th*% 6re%hne%% o6 %at*%6act*on *n new y d*%co7ered power%. "ut there *% %ure y a m*dd e term between a norma e:erc*%e o6 power wh*ch *nc ude% %ome e:cur%*on *nto the unknown+ and a mechan*ca act*7*ty hed$ed w*th*n a drab wor d. =7en *n dea *n$ w*th *nan*mate mach*ne% we rank that *n7ent*on h*$her wh*ch adapt% *t% mo7ement% to 7ary*n$ cond*t*on%. ; *6e operate% throu$h a mechan*%m+ and the h*$her the 6orm o6 *6e the more comp e:+ %ure and 6 e:*b e the mechan*%m. 9h*% 6act a one %hou d %a7e (*1" u% 6rom oppo%*n$ *6e and mechan*%m+ thereby reduc*n$ the atter to un*nte *$ent automat*%m and the 6ormer to an a*m e%% %p ur$e. )ow de *cate+ prompt+ %ure and 7ar*ed are the mo7ement% o6 a 7*o *n p ayer or an en. $ra7erH )ow unerr*n$ y they phra%e e7ery %hade o6 emot*on and e7ery turn o6 *deaH Mechan*%m *% *nd*%pen%ab e. 86 each act ha% to be con%c*ou% y %earched 6or at the moment and *ntent*ona y per6ormed+ e:ecut*on *% pa*n6u and the product *% c um%y and ha t*n$+ ,e7erthe e%% the d*66erence between the art*%t and the mere techn*c*an *% unm*%takeab e. 9he art*%t *% a ma%ter6u techn*c*an. 9he techn*<ue or mechan*%m *% 6u%ed w*th thou$ht and 6ee *n$. 9he ' mechan*ca ' per6ormer perm*t% the mechan*%m to d*ctate the per6ormance. 8t *% ab%urd to %ay that the atter e:h*b*t% hab*t and the 6ormer not. 5e are con6ronted w*th two k*nd% o6 hab*t+ *nte *$ent and rout*ne. ; *6e ha% *t% an+ but on y the pre7a ence o6 dead hab*t% de6 ect% *6e *nto mere an. -et the current dua *%m o6 m*nd and body+ thou$ht and act*on+ *% %o rooted that we are tau$ht /and %c*ence *% %a*d to %upport the teach*n$0 that the art+ the hab*t+ o6 the art*%t *% ac<u*red by pre7*ou% mechan*ca e:erc*%e% o6 repet*t*on *n wh*ch %k* apart 6rom thou$ht *% the a*m+ unt* %udden y+ ma$*ca y+ th*% %ou e%% mechan*%m *% taken po%%e%%*on o6 by %ent*ment and *ma$*nat*on and *t become% a 6 e:*b e *n%trument o6 m*nd. 9he 6act+ the %c*ent*6*c 6act+ *% that e7en *n h*% e:erc*%e%+ h*% pract*ce 6or %k* + an art*%t u%e% an art he a ready ha%. )e ac<u*re% $reater %k* becau%e pract*ce o6 %k* *% more (*'" *mportant to h*m than pract*ce 6or %k* . Ftherw*%e natura endowment wou d count 6or noth*n$+ and %u66*c*ent mechan*ca e:erc*%e wou d make any one an e:pert *n any 6*e d. ; 6 e:*b e+ %en%*t*7e hab*t $row% %nore 7ar*ed+ more adaptab e by pract*ce and u%e. 5e do not a% yet 6u y under%tand the phy%*o o$*ca 6actor% concerned *n mechan*ca rout*ne on one hand and art*%t*c %k* on the other+ but we do know that the atter *% ju%t a% much hab*t a% *% the 6ormer. 5hether *t concern% the cook+ mu%*c*an+ carpenter+ c*t*Ben+ or %tate%man+ the *nte *$ent or art*%t*c hab*t *% the de%*rab e th*n$+ and the rout*ne the unde%*rab e th*n$:E or+ at ea%t+ de%*rab e and unde%*rab e 6rom e7ery po*nt o6 7*ew e:cept one. 9ho%e who w*%h a monopo y o6 %oc*a power 6*nd de%*rab e the %eparat*on o6 hab*t and thou$ht+ act*on and %ou + %o character*%t*c o6 h*%tory. >or the dua *%m enab e% them to do the th*nk*n$ and p ann*n$+ wh* e other% rema*n the doc* e+ e7en *6 awkward+ *n%trument% o6 e:ecut*on. Int* th*% %cheme *% chan$ed+ democracy *% bound to be per7erted *n rea *Bat*on. 5*th our pre%ent %y%tem o6 educat*onE by wh*ch %ometh*n$ much more e:ten%*7e than %choo *n$ *% meantE democracy mu t*p *e% occa%*on% 6or *m*tat*on not occa%*on% 6or thou$ht *n act*on. 86 the 7*%*b e re%u t *% rather a me%%y con6u%*on than an ordered d*%c*p *ne o6 hab*t%+ *t *% becau%e there are %o many mode % o6 *m*tat*on %et up that they tend to cance one another+ %o that *nd*7*dua % ha7e the ad7anta$e ne*ther o6 un*6orm tra*n*n$ nor o6 *nte *$ent adaptat*on. 5hence an *nte ectu2 (*(" 2a *%t+ the one w*th whom th*nk*n$ *% *t%e 6 a %e$re$ated hab*t+ *n6er% that the cho*ce *% between mu%%2and2mudd *n$ and a bureaucracy. )e pre6er% the atter+ t thou$h under %ome other name. u%ua y an ar*%tocracy o6 ta ent and *nte ect+ po%%*b y a d*ctator%h*p o6 the pro etar*at. 8t ha% been repeated y %tated that the current ph* o%oph*ca dua *%m o6 m*nd and body+ o6 %p*r*t and mere outward do*n$+ *% u t*mate y but an *nte ectua re6 e: o6 the %oc*a d*7orce o6 rout*ne hab*t 6rom thou$ht+ o6 mean% 6rom end%+ pract*ce 6rom theory. Fne hard y know% whether mo%t to adm*re the acumen w*th wh*ch "er$%on ha% penetrated throu$h the accumu at*on o6 ? h*%tor*c techn*ca *t*e% 5

to th*% e%%ent*a 6act+ or to dep ore the art*%t*c %k* w*th wh*ch he ha% recommended the d*7*%*on and the metaphy%*ca %ubt ety w*th wh*ch he ha% %tr*7en to e%tab *%h *t% nece%%ary and unchan$eab e nature. >or the atter tend% to con6*rm and %anct*on the dua *%m *n a *t% obno:*ou%ne%%. 8n the end+ howe7er+ detect*on+ d*%co7ery+ *% the ma*n th*n$. 9o en7*%a$e the re at*on o6 %p*r*t+ *6e+ to matter+ body+ a% *n e66ect an a66a*r o6 a 6orce wh*ch outrun% hab*t wh* e *t ea7e% a tra* o6 rout*ne hab*t% beh*nd *t+ w* %ure y turn out *n the end to *mp y the acknow ed$ment o6 the need o6 a cont*nuou% un*6*cat*on o6 %p*r*t and hab*t+ rather than to be a %anct*on o6 the*r d*7orce. ;nd when "er$%on carr*e% the *mp *c*t o$*c to the po*nt o6 a c ear reco$n*t*on that upon th*% ba%*% concrete *nte *$ence *% concerned w*th the hab*t% wh*ch *ncorporate and dea w*th object%+ and that noth2 (*)" 2*n$ rema*n% to %p*r*t+ pure thou$ht+ e:cept a b *nd onward pu%h or *mpetu%+ the net conc u%*on *% %ure y the need o6 re7*%*on o6 the 6undamenta prem*%% o6 %eparat*on o6 %ou and hab*t. ; b *nd creat*7e 6orce *% a% *ke y to turn out to be de%truct*7e a% creat*7e@ the 7*ta lan may de *$ht *n war rather than *n the abor*ou% art% o6 c*7* *Bat*on+ and a my%t*c *ntu*t*on o6 an un$o*n$ %p ur$e be a poor %ub%t*tute 6or the deta* ed work o6 an *nte *$ence embod*ed *n cu%tom and *n%t*tut*on+ one wh*ch create% by mean% o6 6 e:*b e cont*nuou% contr*7ance% o6 reor$an*Bat*on. >or the eu o$*%t*c <ua *t*e% wh*ch "er$%on attr*bute% to the lan vital flow not 6rom *t% nature but 6rom a rem*n*%cence o6 the opt*m*%m o6 romant*c*%m+ an opt*m*%m wh*ch *% on y the re7er%e %*de o6 pe%%*m*%m about actua *t*e%. ; %p*r*tua *6e wh*ch *% noth*n$ but a b *nd ur$e %eparated 6rom thou$ht /wh*ch *% %a*d to be con6*ned to mechan*ca man*pu at*on o6 mater*a object% 6or per%ona u%e%0 *% *ke y to ha7e the attr*bute% o6 the De7* *n %p*te o6 *t% be*n$ ennob ed w*th the name o6 Jod.

,otes
1. Mob p%ycho o$y come% under the %ame pr*nc*p e%+ but *n a ne$at*7e a%pect. 9he crowd and mob e:pre%% a d*%*nte$rat*on o6 hab*t% wh*ch re ea%e% *mpu %e and render% per%on% %u%cept*b e to *mmed*ate %t*mu *+ rather than %uch a 6unct*on*n$ o6 hab*t% a% *% 6ound *n the m*nd o6 a c ub or %choo o6 thou$ht or a po *t*ca party. .eader% o6 an or$an*Bat*on+ that *n o6 act *nteract*on ha7*n$ %ett ed hab*t%+ may+ howe7er+ *n order to put o7er %ome %cheme% de *berate y re%ort to %t*mu * wh*ch w* break throu$h the cru%t o6 ord*nary cu%tom and re ea%e *mpu %e% on %uch a %ca e a% to create a mob p%ycho o$y. C*nce 6ear *% a norma react*on to the un6am* *ar+ dread and %u%p*c*on are the 6orce% mo%t p ayed upon to accomp *%h th*% re%u t+ to$ether w*th 7a%t 7a$ue contrary hope%. 9h*% *% an ord*nary techn*<ue *n e:c*ted po *t*ca campa*$n%+ *n %tart*n$ war+ etc. "ut an a%%*m* at*on *ke that o6 .e "on o6 the p%ycho o$y o6 democracy to the p%ycho o$y o6 a crowd *n o7err*d*n$ *nd*7*dua jud$ment %how% ack o6 p%ycho o$*ca *n%*$ht. ; po *t*ca democracy e:h*b*t% an o7err*d*n$ o6 thou$ht *ke that %een *n any con7ent*on or *n%t*tut*on. 9hat *%+ thou$ht *% %ubmer$ed *n hab*t. 8n the crowd and mob+ *t *% %ubmer$ed *n unde6*ned emot*on. (h*na and Japan e:h*b*t crowd p%ycho o$y more 6re<uent y than do we%tern democrat*c countr*e%. ,ot *n my jud$ment becau%e o6 any e%%ent*a y Fr*enta p%ycho o$y but becau%e o6 a nearer back$round o6 r*$*d and %o *d cu%tom% conjo*ned w*th the phenomena o6 a per*od o6 tran%*t*on. 9he *ntroduct*on o6 many no7e %t*mu * create% occa%*on% where hab*t% a66ord no ba a%t. )ence $reat wa7e% o6 emot*on ea%* y %weep throu$h ma%%e%. Comet*me% they are wa7e% o6 enthu%*a%m 6or the new@ %omet*me% o6 7*o ent react*on a$a*n%t *t E both e<ua y und*%cr*m*nat*n$. 9he war ha% e6t beh*nd *t a %omewhat %*m* ar %*tuat*on *n we%tern countr*e%.

222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 http://www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Dewey/Dewey_1922/Dewey1922_0K.htm !"ajado e 2# de a$o%to de 2011&

Originally published as:

John Dewey. '(u%tom and Mora *ty+' Human Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to Social Psychology. ,ew -ork: Modern .*brary /19220: 3521#.

Part 1: The Place of Habit in Conduct:

K

V. Custom and -orality

>or pract*ca purpo%e% mora % mean cu%tom%+ 6o kway%+ e%tab *%hed co ect*7e hab*t%. 9h*% *% a common+ p ace o6 the anthropo o$*%t+ thou$h the mora theor*%t $enera y %u66er% 6rom an * u%*on that h*% own p ace and day *%+ or ou$ht to be+ an e:cept*on. "ut a way% and e7erywhere cu%tom% %upp y the %tandard% 6or per%ona act*7*t*e%. 9hey are the pattern *nto wh*ch *nd*7*dua act*7*ty mu%t wea7e *t%e 6. 9h*% *% a% true today a% *t e7er wa%. "ut becau%e o6 pre%ent mob* *ty and *nterm*n$ *n$% o6 cu%tom%+ an *nd*7*dua *% now o66ered an enormou% ran$e o6 cu%tom2pattern%+ and can e:erc*%e per%ona *n$enu*ty *n %e ect*n$ and rearran$*n$ the*r e ement%. 8n %hort he can+ *6 he w* + *nte *$ent y adapt cu%tom% to cond*t*on%+ and thereby remake them. (u%tom% *n any ca%e con%t*tute mora %tandard%. >or they are act*7e demand% 6or certa*n way% o6 act*n$. =7ery hab*t create% an uncon%c*ou% e:pectat*on. 8t 6orm% a certa*n out ook. 5hat p%ycho o$*%t% ha7e abor*ou% y treated under the capt*on o6 a%%oc*at*on o6 *dea% ha% *tt e to do w*th *dea% and e7eryth*n$ .o do w*th the *n6 uence o6 hab*t upon reco ect*on and percept*on. ; hab*t+ a rout*ne hab*t+ when *nter6ered w*th $enerate% unea%*ne%%+ %et% up a prete%t *n 6a7or o6 re%torat*on and a %en%e o6 need o6 %ome e:p*atory act+ or e %e *t $oe% o66 *n ca%ua rem*n*%cence. 8t *% the (*#" e%%ence o6 rout*ne to *n%*%t upon *t% own cont*nuat*on. "reach o6 *t *% 7*o at*on o6 r*$ht. De7*at*on 6rom *t *% tran%$re%%*on. ; that metaphy%*c% ha% %a*d about the n*%u% o6 "e*n$ to con%er7e *t% e%%ence and a that a mytho o$*ca p%ycho o$y ha% %a*d about a %pec*a *n%t*nct o6 %e 62pre%er7at*on *% a co7er 6or the per%*%tent %e 62a%%ert*on o6 hab*t. )ab*t *% ener$y or$an*Bed *n certa*n channe %. 5hen *nter6ered w*th+ *t %we % a% re%entment and a% an a7en$*n$ 6orce. 9o %ay that *t w* be obeyed+ that cu%tom make% aw+ that nomos *% ord o6 a + *% a6ter a on y to %ay that hab*t *% hab*t. =mot*on *% a perturbat*on 6rom c a%h or 6a* ure o6 hab*t+ and re6 ect*on+ rou$h y %peak*n$+ *% the pa*n6u e66ort o6 d*%turbed hab*t% to readju%t them%e 7e%. 8t *% a p*ty that 5e%termarck *n h*% monumenta co ect*on o6 6act% wh*ch %how the connect*on o6 cu%tom w*th mora % !1& *% %t* %o much under the *n6 uence o6 current %ubject*7e p%ycho o$y that he m*%%tate% the po*nt o6 h*% data. >or a thou$h he reco$n*Be% the object*7*ty o6 cu%tom+ he treat% %ympathet*c re%entment and approbat*on a% d*%t*nct*7e *nner 6ee *n$% or con%c*ou% %tate% wh*ch $*7e r*%e to act%. 8n h*% an:*ety to d*%p ace an unrea rat*ona %ource o6 mora % he %et% up an e<ua y unrea emot*ona ba%*%. 8n truth+ 6ee *n$% a% we a% rea%on %pr*n$ up w*th*n act*on. "reach o6 cu%tom or hab*t *% the %ource o6 %ympathet*c re%entment+ wh* e o7ert approbat*on $oe% out to 6*de *ty to cu%tom ma*nta*ned under e:cept*ona c*rcum%tance%. (**" 9ho%e who reco$n*Be the p ace o6 cu%tom *n ower %oc*a 6orm% $enera y re$ard *t% pre%ence *n c*7* *Bed %oc*ety a% a mere %ur7*7a . Fr+ *ke Cumner+ they 6ancy that to reco$n*Be *t% ab*d*n$ p ace *% e<u*7a ent to the den*a o6 a rat*ona *ty and pr*nc*p e to mora *ty@ e<u*7a ent to the a%%ert*on o6 b *nd+ arb*trary 6orce% *n *6e. 8n e66ect+ th*% po*nt o6 7*ew ha% a ready been dea t w*th. 8t o7er ook% the 6act that the rea oppo%*t*on *% not between rea%on and hab*t but between rout*ne+ un*nte *$ent hab*t+ and *nte *$ent hab*t or art. =7en a %a7a$e cu%tom may be rea%onab e *n that *t *% adapted to %oc*a need% and u%e%. =:per*ence may add to %uch adaptat*on a con%c*ou% reco$n*t*on o6 *t+ and then the cu%tom o6 rat*ona *ty *% added to a pr*or cu%tom. =:terna rea%onab ene%% or adaptat*on to end% precede% rea%onab ene%% o6 m*nd. 9h*% *% on y to %ay that *n mora % a% we a% *n phy%*c% th*n$% ha7e to be there be6ore we perce*7e them+ and that rat*ona *ty o6 m*nd *% not an or*$*na endowment but *% the o66%pr*n$ o6 *ntercour%e w*th object*7e adaptat*on% and re at*on%E a 7*ew wh*ch under the *n6 uence o6 a concept*on o6 know*n$ the *ke by the *ke ha% been d*%torted *nto P aton*c and other object*7e *dea *%m%. Dea%on a% ob%er7at*on o6 an adaptat*on o6 act% to 7a uab e re%u t% *% not howe7er a mere *d e m*rror*n$ o6 pree:*%tent 6act%. 8t *% an add*t*ona e7ent ha7*n$ *t% own career. 8t %et% up a he*$htened emot*ona apprec*at*on and pro7*de% a new mot*7e 6or 6*de *t*e% pre7*ou% y b *nd. 8t %et% up an att*tude o6 cr*t*c*%m+ o6 *n<u*ry+ and (*+" make% men %en%*t*7e to the bruta *t*e% and e:tra7a$anc*e% o6 cu%tom%. 8n %hort+ *t become% a cu%tom o6 e:pectat*on and out ook+ an act*7e demand 6or rea%onab ene%% *n other cu%tom%. 9he re6 ect*7e d*%po%*t*on *% not %e 62made nor a $*6t o6 the $od%. 8t ar*%e% *n %ome e:cept*ona c*rcum%tance out o6 %oc*a cu%tom%+ a% we %ee *n the ca%e o6 the Jreek%. "ut when *t ha% been 3

$enerated *t e%tab *%he% a new cu%tom+ wh*ch *% capab e o6 e:erc*%*n$ the mo%t re7o ut*onary *n6 uence upon other cu%tom%. )ence the $row*n$ *mportance o6 per%ona rat*ona *ty or *nte *$ence+ *n mora theory *6 not *n pract*ce. 9hat current cu%tom% contrad*ct one another+ that many o6 them are unju%t+ and that w*thout cr*t*c*%m none o6 them *% 6*t to be the $u*de o6 *6e wa% the d*%co7ery w*th wh*ch the ;then*an Cocrate% *n*t*ated con%c*ou% mora theor*B*n$. -et a d* emma %oon pre%ented *t%e 6+ one wh*ch 6orm% the burden o6 P ato?% eth*ca wr*t*n$%. )ow %ha thou$ht wh*ch *% per%ona arr*7e at %tandard% wh*ch ho d $ood 6or a + wh*ch+ *n modern phra%e+ are object*7eG 9he %o ut*on 6ound by P ato wa% that rea%on *% *t%e 6 object*7e+ un*7er%a + co%m*c and make% the *nd*7*dua %ou *t% 7eh*c e. 9he re%u t+ howe7er+ wa% mere y to %ub%t*tute a metaphy%*ca or tran%cendenta eth*c% 6or the eth*c% o6 cu%tom. 86 P ato had been ab e to %ee that re6 ect*on and cr*t*c*%m e:pre%% a con6 *ct o6 cu%tom%+ and that the*r purport and o66*ce *% to re2or$an*Be+ re2adju%t cu%tom%+ the %ub%e<uent (our%e o6 mora theory wou d ha7e been 7ery d*66erent. (u%tom wou d ha7e pro7*ded needed object*7e and %ub2 (*!" 2%tant*a ba a%t+ and per%ona rat*ona *ty or re6 ect*7e *nte *$ence been treated a% the nece%%ary or$an o6 e:per*menta *n*t*at*7e and creat*7e *n7ent*on *n remak*n$ cu%tom. 5e ha7e another d*66*cu ty to 6ace: a $reater wa7e r*%e% to o7erwhe m u%. 8t *% %a*d that to der*7e mora %tandard% 6rom %oc*a cu%tom% *% to e7acuate the atter o6 a author*ty. Mora %+ *t *% %a*d+ *mp y the %ubord*nat*on o6 6act to *dea con%*derat*on+ wh* e the 7*ew pre%ented make% mora % %econdary to bare 6act+ wh*ch *% e<ua to depr*7*n$ them o6 d*$n*ty and jur*%d*ct*on. 9he object*on ha% the 6orce o6 the cu%tom o6 mora theor*%t% beh*nd *t @ and there6ore *n *t% den*a o6 cu%tom a7a* % *t%e 6 o6 the a%%*%tance o6 the not*on *t attack%. 9he cr*t*c*%m re%t% upon a 6a %e %eparat*on+ 8t ar$ue% *n e66ect that e*ther *dea %tandard% antecede cu%tom% and con6er the*r mora <ua *ty upon them+ o6 that *n be*n$ %ub%e<uent to cu%tom and e7o 7ed 6rom them+ they are mere acc*denta by2product%. "ut how doe% the ca%e %tand w*th an$ua$eG Men d*d not *ntend an$ua$e+ they d*d not ha7e %oc*a object% con%c*ou% y *n 7*ew when they be$an to ta k+ nor d*d they ha7e $rammat*ca and phonet*c pr*nc*p e% be6ore them by wh*ch to re$u ate the*r e66ort% at commun*cat*on. 9he%e th*n$% come ;6ter the 6act. and becau%e o6 *t .an$ua$e $rew out o6 un*nte *$ent babb *n$%+ *n%t*nct*7e mot*on% ca ed $e%ture%+ and the pre%%ure o6 c*rcum%tance. "ut ne7erthe e%% an$ua$e once ca ed *nto e:*%tence *% an$ua$e and operate% a% an$ua$e. 8t operate% not to perpetuate the 6orce% wh*ch produced *t (+$" but to mod*6y and red*rect them. 8t ha% %uch tran%cendent *mportance that pa*n% are taken w*th *t% u%e. .*terature% are produced+ and then a 7a%t apparatu% o6 $rammar+ rhetor*c+ d*ct*onar*e%+ *terary cr*t*c*%m+ re7*ew%+ e%%ay%+ a der*7ed *terature ad *b. =ducat*on+ %choo *n$+ become% a nece%%*ty@ *teracy an end. 8n %hort an$ua$e when *t *% produced meet% o d need% and open% new po%%*b* *t*e%. 8t create% demand% wh*ch take e66ect+ and the e66ect *% not con6*ned to %peech and *terature+ but e:tend% to the common *6e *n commun*cat*on+ coun%e and *n%truct*on. 5hat *% %a*d o6 the *n%t*tut*on o6 an$ua$e ho d% $ood o6 e7ery *n%t*tut*on. >am* y *6e+ property+ e$a 6orm%+ churche% and %choo %+ academ*e% o6 art and %c*ence d*d not or*$*nate to %er7e con%c*ou% end% nor wa% the*r $enerat*on re$u ated by con%c*ou%ne%% o6 pr*nc*p e% o6 rea%on and r*$ht. -et each *n%t*tut*on ha% brou$ht w*th *t% de7e opment demand%+ e:pectat*on%+ ru e%+ %tandard%. 9he%e are not mere embe *%hment% o6 the 6orce% wh*ch produced them+ *d e decorat*on% o6 the %cene. 9hey are add*t*ona 6orce%. 9hey recon%truct. 9hey open new a7enue% o6 endea7or and *mpo%e new abor%. 8n %hort they are c*7* *Bat*on+ cu ture+ mora *ty. Ct* the <ue%t*on recur%: 5hat author*ty ha7e %tandard% and *dea% wh*ch ha7e or*$*nated *n th*% wayG 5hat c a*m ha7e they upon u%G 8n one %en%e the <ue%t*on *% unan%werab e. 8n the %ame %en%e+ howe7er+ the <ue%t*on *% unan%werab e whate7er or*$*n and %anct*on *% a%cr*bed to mora ob *$at*on% (+1" and oya t*e%. 5hy attend to metaphy%*ca and tran%cendenta *dea rea *t*e% e7en *6 we concede they are the author% o6 mora %tandard%G 5hy do th*% act *6 8 6ee *ke do*n$ %ometh*n$ e %eG ;ny mora <ue%t*on may reduce *t%e 6 to th*% <ue%t*on *6 we %o choo%e. "ut *n an emp*r*ca %en%e the an%wer *% %*mp e. 9he author*ty *% that o6 *6e. 5hy emp oy an$ua$e+ cu t*7ate *terature+ ac<u*re and de7e op %c*ence+ %u%ta*n *ndu%try+ and %ubm*t to the re6*nement% o6 artG 9o a%k the%e <ue%t*on% *% e<u*7a ent to a%k*n$: 5hy *7eG ;nd the on y an%wer *% that *6 one *% $o*n$ to *7e one mu%t *7e a 1

*6e o6 wh*ch the%e th*n$% 6orm the %ub%tance. 9he on y <ue%t*on ha7*n$ %en%e wh*ch can be a%ked *% how we are $o*n$ to u%e and be u%ed by the%e th*n$%+ not whether we are $o*n$ to u%e them. Dea%on+ mora pr*nc*p e%+ cannot *n any ca%e be %ho7ed beh*nd the%e a66a*r%+ 6or rea%on and mora *ty $row out o6 them. "ut they ha7e $rown *nto them a% we a% out o6 them. 9hey are there a% part o6 them. ,o one can e%cape them *6 he want% to. )e cannot e%cape the prob em o6 how to en$a$e *n *6e+ %*nce *n any ca%e he mu%t en$a$e *n *t *n %ome way or otherE or e %e <u*t and $et out. 8n %hort+ the cho*ce *% not between a mora author*ty out%*de cu%tom and one w*th*n *t. 8t *% between adopt*n$ more or e%% *nte *$ent and %*$n*6*cant cu%tom%. (ur*ou% y enou$h+ the ch*e6 pract*ca e66ect o6 re6u%*n$ to reco$n*Be the connect*on o6 cu%tom w*th mora %tandard% *% to de*6y %ome %pec*a cu%tom and treat *t a% eterna + *mmutab e+ out%*de o6 cr*t*c*%m and re7*%*on. (+'" 9h*% con%e<uence *% e%pec*a y harm6u *n t*me% o6 rap*d %oc*a 6 u:. >or *t ead% to d*%par*ty between nom*na %tandard%+ wh*ch become *ne66ectua and hypocr*t*ca *n e:act rat*o to the*r theoret*ca e:a tat*on+ and actua hab*t% wh*ch ha7e to take note o6 e:*%t*n$ cond*t*on%. 9he d*%par*ty breed% d*%order. 8rre$u ar*ty and con6u%*on are howe7er pract*ca y *nto erab e+ and e66ect the $enerat*on o6 a new ru e o6 %ome %ort or other. Fn y %uch comp ete d*%turbance o6 the phy%*ca ba%e% o6 *6e and %ecur*ty a% come% 6rom p a$ue and %tar7at*on can throw %oc*ety *nto utter d*%order. ,o amount o6 *nte ectua tran%*t*on can %er*ou% y d*%turb the ma*n tenor o6 cu%tom+ or mora %. )ence the $reater dan$er wh*ch attend% the attempt *n per*od o6 %oc*a chan$e to ma*nta*n the *mmutab* *ty o6 o d %tandard% *% not. $enera mora re a:at*on. 8t *% rather %oc*a c a%h+ an *rreconc* ed con6 *ct o6 mora %tandard% and purpo%e%+ the mo%t %er*ou% 6orm o6 c a%% war6are. >or %e$re$ated c a%%e% de7e op the*r own cu%tom%+ wh*ch *% to %ay the*r own work*n$ mora %. ;% on$ a% %oc*ety *% ma*n y *mmob* e the%e d*7er%e pr*nc*p e% and ru *n$ a*m% do not c a%h. 9hey e:*%t %*de by %*de *n d*66erent %trata. Power+ $ ory+ honor+ ma$n*6*cence+ mutua 6a*th here@ *ndu%try+ obed*ence+ ab%t*nence+ hum* *ty+ and re7erence there: nob e ar*d p ebe*an 7*rtue%. A*$or+ coura$e+ ener$y+ enterpr*%e here@ %ubm*%%*on+ pat*ence+ charm+ per%ona 6*de *ty there: the ma%cu *ne and 6em*n*ne 7*rtue%. "ut mob* *ty *n7ade% %oc*ety. 5ar+ commerce+ tra7e + commun*cat*on+ contact w*th the thou$ht% and de%*re% o6 other c a%%e%+ new (+(" *n7ent*on% *n product*7e *ndu%try+ d*%turb the %ett ed d*%tr*but*on o6 cu%tom%. (on$ea ed hab*t% thaw out+ and a 6 ood m*:e% th*n$% once %eparated. =ach c a%% *% r*$*d y %ure o6 the r*$htne%% o6 *t% own end% and hence not o7er%crupu ou% about the mean% o6 atta*n*n$ them. Fne %*de proc a*m% the u t*macy o6 orderE that o6 %ome o d order wh*ch conduce% to *t% own *ntere%t. 9he other %*de proc a*m% *t% r*$ht% to 6reedom+ and *dent*6*e% ju%t*ce w*th *t% %ubmer$ed c a*m%. 9here *% no common $round+ no mora under%tand*n$+ no a$reed upon %tandard o6 appea . 9oday %uch a con6 *ct occur% between propert*ed c a%%e% and tho%e who depend upon da* y wa$e@ between men and women@ between o d and youn$. =ach appea % to *t% own %tandard o6 r*$ht+ and each th*nk% the other the creature o6 per%ona de%*re+ wh*m or ob%t*nacy. Mob* *ty ha% a66ected peop e% a% we . ,at*on% and race% 6ace one another+ each w*th *t% own *mmutab e %tandard%. ,e7er be6ore *n h*%tory ha7e there e:*%ted %uch numerou% contact% and m*n$ *n$%. ,e7er be6ore ha7e there been %uch occa%*on% 6or con6 *ct wh*ch are the more %*$n*6*cant becau%e each %*de 6ee % that *t *% %upported by mora pr*nc*p e%. (u%tom% re at*n$ to what ha% been and emot*on% re6err*n$ to what may come to be $o the*r *ndependent way%. 9he demand o6 each %*de treat% *t% opponent a% a w* 6u 7*o ator o6 mora pr*nc*p e%+ an e:pre%%*on o6 %e 62*ntere%t or %uper*or m*$ht. 8nte *$ence wh*ch *% the on y po%%*b e me%%en$er o6 reconc* *at*on dwe % *n a 6ar and o6 ab%tract*on% or come% a6ter the e7ent to record accomp *%hed 6act%.

,otes
1. '9he Fr*$*n and De7e opment o6 Mora 8dea%.'

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!"ajado e 2# de a$o%to de 2011&

Originally published as:

John Dewey. '9he $ood o6 act*7*ty+' Human Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to Social Psychology. ,ew -ork: Modern .*brary /19220: 2312294.

Human Nature and Conduct

Part ): Conclusion: I. The .ood of /cti0ity
(F,DI(9 when d*%tr*buted under head% *ke hab*t+ *mpu %e and *nte *$ence $et% art*6*c*a y %hredded. 8n d*%cu%%*n$ each o6 the%e top*c% we ha7e run *nto the other%. 5e conc ude+ then+ w*th an attempt to $ather to$ether %ome out%tand*n$ con%*derat*on% about conduct a% a who e. 8. 9he Jood o6 ;ct*7*ty 9he 6oremo%t conc u%*on *% that mora % ha% to do w*th a act*7*ty *nto wh*ch a ternat*7e po%%*b* *t*e% enter. >or where7er they enter a d*66erence between better and wor%e ar*%e%. De6 ect*on upon act*on mean% uncerta*nty and con%e<uent need o6 dec*%*on a% to wh*ch cour%e *% better. 9he better *% the $ood@ the be%t *% not better than the $ood but *% %*mp y the d*%co7ered $ood. (omparat*7e and %uper at*7e de$ree% are on y path% to the po%*t*7e de$ree o6 act*on. 9he wor%e or e7* *% a rejected $ood. 8n de *berat*on and be6ore cho*ce no e7* pre%ent% *t%e 6 a% e7* . Int* *t *% rejected+ *t *% a compet*n$ $ood. ;6ter reject*on+ *t 6*$ure% not a% a e%%er $ood+ but a% the bad o6 that %*tuat*on. ('*!" ;ctua y then on y de *berate act*on+ conduct *nto wh*ch re6 ect*7e cho*ce enter%+ *% d*%t*nct*7e y mora + 6or on y then doe% there enter the <ue%t*on o6 better and wor%e. -et *t *% a per* ou% error to draw a hard and 6a%t *ne between act*on *nto wh*ch de *berat*on and cho*ce enter and act*7*ty due to *mpu %e and matter2o626act hab*t. Fne o6 the con%e<uence% o6 act*on *% to *n7o 7e u% *n pred*cament% where we ha7e to re6 ect upon th*n$% 6ormer y done a% matter o6 cour%e. Fne o6 the ch*e6 prob em% o6 our dea *n$% w*th other% *% to *nduce them to re6 ect upon a66a*r% wh*ch they u%ua y per6orm 6rom unre6 ect*7e hab*t. Fn the other hand+ e7ery re6 ect*7e cho*ce tend% to re e$ate %ome con%c*ou% *%%ue *nto a deed or hab*t hence6orth taken 6or $ranted and not thou$ht upon. Potent*a y there6ore e7ery and any act *% w*th*n the %cope o6 mora %+ be*n$ a cand*date 6or po%%*b e jud$ment w*th re%pect to *t% better2or2wor%e <ua *ty. 8t thu% become% one o6 the mo%t perp e:*n$ prob em% o6 re6 ect*on to d*%co7er ju%t how 6ar to carry *t+ what to br*n$ under e:am*nat*on and what to ea7e to un%crut*n*Bed hab*t. "ecau%e there *% no 6*na rec*pe by wh*ch to dec*de th*% <ue%t*on a mora jud$ment *% e:per*menta and %ubject to re7*%*on by *t% *%%ue. 9he reco$n*t*on that conduct co7er% e7ery act that *% jud$ed w*th re6erence to better and wor%e and that the need o6 th*% jud$ment *% potent*a y coe:ten%*7e w*th a port*on% o6 conduct+ %a7e% u% 6rom the m*%take wh*ch make% mora *ty a %eparate department o6 *6e. Potent*a y conduct *% one hundred per cent o6 our act%. ('+$" )ence we mu%t dec *ne to adm*t theor*e% wh*ch *dent*6y mora % w*th the pur*6*cat*on o6 mot*7e%+ ed*6y*n$ character+ pur%u*n$ remote and e u%*7e per6ect*on+ obey*n$ %upernatura command+ acknow ed$*n$ the author*ty o6 duty. Cuch not*on% ha7e a dua bad e66ect. >*r%t they $et *n the way o6 ob%er7at*on o6 cond*t*on% and con%e<uence%. 9hey d*7ert thou$ht *nto %*de *%%ue%. Cecond y+ wh* e they con6er a morb*d e:a$$erated <ua *ty upon th*n$% wh*ch are 7*ewed under the a%pect o6 mora *ty+ they re ea%e the ar$er part o6 the act% o6 *6e 6rom %er*ou%+ that *% mora + %ur7ey. 10

;n:*ou% %o *c*tude 6or the 6ew act% wh*ch are deemed mora *% accompan*ed by ed*ct% o6 e:empt*on and bath% o6 *mmun*ty 6or mo%t act%. ; mora morator*um pre7a* % 6or e7eryday a66a*r%. 5hen we ob%er7e that mora % *% at home where7er con%*derat*on% o6 the wor%e and better are *n7o 7ed+ we are comm*tted to not*n$ that mora *ty *% a cont*nu*n$ proce%% not a 6*:ed ach*e7ement. Mora % mean% $rowth o6 conduct *n mean*n$@ at ea%t *t mean% that k*nd o6 e:pan%*on *n mean*n$ wh*ch *% con%e<uent upon ob%er7at*on% o6 the cond*t*on% and outcome o6 conduct. 8t *% a one w*th $row*n$. Jrow*n$ and $rowth are the %ane 6act e:panded *n actua *ty or te e%coped *n thou$ht. 888 the ar$e%t %en%e o6 the word+ mora % *% educat*on. 8t *% earn*n$ the mean*n$ o6 what we are about and emp oy*n$ that mean*n$ *n act*on. 9he $ood+ %at*%6act*on+ ' end+' o6 $rowth o6 pre%ent act*on *n %hade% and %cope o6 mean*n$ *% the on y $ood w*th*n our contro + and the on y one+ accord*n$ y+ 6or wh*ch ('+1" re%pon%*b* *ty e:*%t%. 9he re%t *% uck+ 6ortune. ;nd the tra$edy o6 the mora not*on% mo%t *n%*%ted upon by the mora y %e 62con%c*ou% *% the re e$at*on o6 the on y $ood wh*ch can 6u y en$a$e thou$ht+ name y pre%ent mean*n$ o6 act*on+ to the rank o6 an *nc*dent o6 a re+ mote $ood+ whether that 6uture $ood be de6*ned a% p ea%ure+ or per6ect*on+ or %a 7at*on+ or atta*nment o6 7*rtuou% character. 'Pre%ent' act*7*ty *% not a %harp narrow kn*6e2b ade *n t*me. 9he pre%ent *% comp e:+ conta*n*n$ w*th*n *t%e 6 a mu t*tude o6 hab*t% and *mpu %e%. 8t *% endur*n$+ a cour%e o6 act*on+ a proce%% *nc ud*n$ memory+ ob%er7at*on and 6ore%*$ht+ a pre%%ure 6orward+ a $ ance backward and a ook outward. 8t *% o6 mora moment becau%e *t mark% a tran%*t*on *n the d*rect*on o6 breadth and c ar*ty o6 act*on or *n that o6 tr*7*a *ty and con6u%*on. Pro$re%% *% pre%ent recon%truct*on add*n$ 6u ne%% and d*%t*nctne%% o6 mean*n$+ and retro$re%%*on *% a pre%ent % *pp*n$ away o6 %*$n*6*cance+ determ*nat*on%+ $ra%p. 9ho%e who ho d that pro$re%% can be perce*7ed and mea%ured on y by re6erence to a remote $oa + 6*r%t con6u%e mean*n$ w*th %pace+ and then treat %pat*a po%*t*on a% ab%o ute+ a% *m*t*n$ mo7ement *n%tead o6 be*n$ bounded *n and by mo7ement. 9here are p enty o6 ne$at*7e e ement%+ due to con6 *ct+ entan$ ement and ob%cur*ty+ *n mo%t o6 the %*tuat*on% o6 *6e+ and we do not re<u*re a re7e at*on o6 %ome %upreme per6ect*on to *n6orm u% whether or no we are mak*n$ headway *n pre%ent rect*6*cat*on. 5e mo7e on 6ront the wor%e and *nto+ not ju%t toward%+ the better+ wh*ch ('+'" *t authent*cated not by compar*%on w*th the 6ore*$n but *n what *% *nd*$enou%. In e%% pro$re%% *% a pre%ent recon%truct*n$+ *t *% noth*n$@ *6 *t cannot be to d by <ua *t*e% be on$*n$ to the mo7ement o6 tran%*t*on *t can ne7er be jud$ed. Men ha7e con%tructed a %tran$e dream2wor d when they ha7e %uppo%ed that w*thout a 6*:ed *dea o6 a remote $ood to *n%p*re them+ they ha7e no *nducement to $et re *e6 6rom pre%ent troub e%+ no de%*re% 6or *berat*on 6rom what oppre%%e% and 6or c ear*n$2up what con6u%e% pre%ent act*on. 9he wor d *n wh*ch we cou d $et en *$htenment and *n%truct*on about the d*rect*on *n wh*ch we are mo7*n$ on y 6rom a 7a$ue concept*on o6 an unatta*nab e per6ect*on wou d be tota y un *ke our pre%ent wor d. Cu66*c*ent unto the day *% the e7* thereo6. Cu66*c*ent *t *% to %t*mu ate u% to remed*a act*on+ to endea7or *n order to con7ert %tr*6e *nto harmony+ monotony *nto a 7ar*e$ated %cene+ and *m*tat*on *nto e:pan%*on. 9he con7ert*n$ *% pro$re%%+ the on y pro$re%% conce*7ab e or atta*nab e by man. )ence e7ery %*tuat*on ha% *t% own mea%ure and <ua *ty o6 pro$re%%+ and the need 6or pro$re%% *% recurrent+ con%tant. 86 *t *% better to tra7e than to arr*7e+ *t *% becau%e tra7e *n$ *% a con%tant arr*7*n$+ wh* e arr*7a that prec ude% 6urther tra7e *n$ *% mo%t ea%* y atta*ned by $o*n$ to % eep or dy*n$. 5e 6*nd our c ew% to d*rect*on *n the projected reco ect*on% o6 de6*n*te e:per*enced $ood% not *n 7a$ue ant*c*pat*on%+ e7en when we abe the 7a$uene%% per6ect*on+ the 8dea + and proceed to man*pu ate *t% de6*n*t*on w*th dry d*a ect*c o$*c. ('+(" Pro$re%% mean% *ncrea%e o6 pre%ent mean*n$+ wh*ch *n7o 7e% mu t*p *cat*on o6 %en%ed d*%t*nct*on% a% we a% harmony+ un*6*cat*on. 9h*% %tatement may+ perhap%+ be made $enera y+ *n app *cat*on to the e:per*ence o6 human*ty. 86 h*%tory %how% pro$re%% *t can hard y be 6ound e %ewhere than *n th*% comp *cat*on and e:ten%*on o6 the %*$n*6*cance 6ound w*th*n e:per*ence. 8t *% c ear that %uch pro$re%% br*n$% no %urcea%e+ no *mmun*ty 6rom perp e:*ty and troub e. 86 we w*%hed to tran%mute th*% $enera *Bat*on *nto a cate$or*ca *mperat*7e we %hou d %ay: 'Co act a% to *ncrea%e the mean*n$ o6 pre%ent e:per*ence.' "ut e7en then *n order to $et *n%truct*on about the concrete <ua *ty o6 %uch *ncrea%ed mean*n$ we %hou d ha7e to run away 6rom the aw and %tudy the need% 11

and a ternat*7e po%%*b* *t*e% y*n$ w*th*n a un*<ue and oca *Bed %*tuat*on. 9he *mperat*7e+ *ke e7eryth*n$ ab%o ute+ *% %ter* e. 9* men $*7e up the %earch 6or a $enera 6ormu a o6 pro$re%% they w* not know where to ook to 6*nd *t. ; bu%*ne%% man proceed% by compar*n$ today?% *ab* *t*e% and a%%et% w*th ye%terday?%+ and project% p an% 6or tomorrow by a %tudy o6 the mo7ement thu% *nd*cated *n conjunct*on w*th %tudy o6 the cond*t*on% o6 the en7*ronment now e:*%t*n$. 8t *% not otherw*%e w*th the bu%*ne%% o6 *7*n$. 9he 6uture *% a project*on o6 the %ubject2matter o6 the pre%ent+ a project*on wh*ch *% not arb*trary *n the e:tent *n wh*ch *t d*7*ne% the mo7ement o6 the mo7*n$ pre%ent. 9he phy%*c*an *% o%t who wou d $u*de h*% act*7*t*e% o6 hea *n$ by bu* d*n$ up a p*cture o6 per6ect hea th. the %ame 6or a and *n *t% nature. ('+)" comp ete and %e 62enc o%ed once 6or a . )e emp oy% what he ha% d*%co7ered about actua ca%e% o6 $ood hea th and * hea th and the*r cau%e% to *n7e%t*$ate the pre%ent a* *n$ *nd*7*dua + %o a% to 6urther h*% reco7er*n$@ reco7er*n$+ an *ntr*n%*c and *7*n$ proce%% rather than reco7ery+ wh*ch *% comparat*7e and %tat*c. Mora theor*e%+ wh*ch howe7er ha7e not rema*ned mere theor*e% but wh*ch ha7e 6ound the*r way *nto the op*n*on% o6 the common man+ ha7e re7er%ed the %*tuat*on and made the pre%ent %ub%er7*ent to a r*$*d yet ab%tract 6uture. 9he eth*ca *mport o6 the doctr*ne o6 e7o ut*on *% enormou%. "ut *t% *mport ha% been m*%con%trued ?"ecau%e the doctr*ne ha% been appropr*ated by the 7ery trad*t*ona not*on% wh*ch *n truth *t %ub7ert%. *t ha% been thou$ht that the doctr*ne o6 e7o ut*on mean% the comp ete %ubord*nat*on o6 pre%ent chan$e to a 6uture $oa . 8t ha% been con%tra*ned to teach a 6ut* e do$ma o6 appro:*mat*on+ *n%tead o6 a $o%pe o6 pre%ent $rowth. 9he u%u6ruct o6 the new %c*ence ha% been %e*Bed upon by the o d trad*t*on o6 6*:ed and e:terna end%. 8n 6act e7o ut*on mean% cont*nu*ty o6 chan$e@ and the 6act that chan$e may take the 6orm o6 pre%ent $rowth o6 comp e:*ty and *nteract*on. C*$n*6*cant %ta$e% *n chan$e are 6ound not *n acce%% o6 6*:*ty o6 atta*nment but *n tho%e cr*%e% *n wh*ch a %eem*n$ 6*:*ty o6 hab*t% $*7e% way to a re ea%e o6 capac*t*e% that ha7e not pre7*ou% y 6unct*oned: *n t*me% that *% o6 readju%tment and red*rect*on. ,o matter what the pre%ent %ucce%% *n %tra*$hten*n$ out d*66*cu t*e% and harmon*B*n$ con6 *ct%+ *t *% certa*n ('+ " that prob em% w* recur *n the 6uture *n a new 6orm or on a d*66erent p ane. 8ndeed e7ery $enu*ne accomp *%hment *n%tead o6 w*nd*n$ up an a66a*r and enc o%*n$ *t a% a jewe *n a ca%ket 6or 6uture contemp at*on+ comp *cate% the pract*ca %*tuat*on. 8t e66ect% a new d*%tr*but*on o6 ener$*e% wh*ch ha7e hence6orth to be emp oyed *n way% 6or wh*ch pa%t e:per*ence $*7e% no e:act *n%truct*on. =7ery *mportant %at*%6act*on o6 Pr. o d want create% a new one@ and th*% new one ha% .o enter upon an e:per*menta ad7enture to 6*nd *t% %at*%6act*on. >rom the %*de o6 what ha% $one be6ore ach*e7ement %ett e% %ometh*n$. >rom the %*de o6 what come% a6ter+ *t comp *cate%+ *ntroduc*n$ new prob em%+ un%ett *n$ 6actor%. 9here *% %ometh*n$ p*t*6u y ju7en* e *n the *dea that 'e7o ut*on+' pro$re%%+ mean% a de6*n*te %um o6 accomp *%hment wh*ch w* 6ore7er %tay done+ and wh*ch by an e:act amount e%%en% the amount %t* to be done+ d*%po%*n$ once and 6or a o6 ju%t %o many perp e:*t*e% and ad7anc*n$ u% ju%t %o 6ar on our road to a 6*na %tab e and unperp e:ed $oa . -et the typ*ca n*neteenth century+ m*d27*ctor*an concept*on o6 e7o ut*on wa% prec*%e y a 6ormu at*on o6 %uch a con%ummate ju7en* *%m. 86 the true *dea *% that o6 a %tab e cond*t*on 6ree 6rom con6 *ct and d*%turbance+ then there are a number o6 theor*e% who%e c a*m% are %uper*or to tho%e o6 the popu ar doctr*ne o6 e7o ut*on. .o$*c po*nt% rather *n the d*rect*on o6 Dou%%eau and 9o %to* who wou d recur to %ome pr*m*t*7e %*mp *c*ty+ who wou d return 6rom comp *cated and troub ed c*7* *Bat*on to a %tate o6 na2 ('+#" 2ture. >or certa*n y pro$re%% *n c*7* *Bat*on ha% not on y meant *ncrea%e *n the %cope and *ntr*cacy o6 prob em% to be dea t w*th+ but *t enta* % *ncrea%*n$ *n%tab* *ty. >or *n mu t*p y*n$ want%+ *n%trument% and po%%*b* *t*e%+ *t *ncrea%e% the 7ar*ety o6 6orce% wh*ch enter *nto re at*on% w*th one another and wh*ch ha7e to be *nte *$ent y d*rected. Fr a$a*n+ Cto*c *nd*66erence or "uddh*%t ca m ha7e $reater c a*m%. >or+ *t may be ar$ued+ %*nce a object*7e ach*e7ement on y comp *cate% the %*tuat*on+ the 7*ctory o6 a 6*na %tab* *ty can be %ecured on y by renunc*at*on o6 de%*re. C*nce e7ery %at*%6act*on o6 de%*re *ncrea%e% 6orce+ and th*% *n turn create% new de%*re%+ w*thdrawa *nto an *nner pa%%*on e%% %tate+ *nd*66erence to act*on and atta*nment+ *% the %o e road to po%%e%%*on o6 the eterna + %tab e and 6*na rea *ty. 12

;$a*n+ 6rom the %tandpo*nt o6 de6*n*te appro:*mat*on to an u t*mate $oa + the ba ance 6a % hea7* y on the %*de o6 pe%%*m*%m. 9he more %tr*7*n$ the more atta*nment%+ perhap%@ but a %o a%%ured y the more need% and the more d*%appo*ntment%. 9he more we do and the more we accomp *%h+ the more the end *% 7an*ty and 7e:at*on. >rom the %tandpo*nt o6 atta*nment o6 $ood that %tay% put+ that con%t*tute% a de6*n*te %um per6ormed wh*ch e%%en% the amount o6 e66ort re<u*red *n order to reach the u t*mate $oa o6 6*na $ood+ pro$re%% *% au * u%*on. "ut we are ook*n$ 6or *t *n the wron$ p ace. 9he wor d war *% a b*tter commentary on the n*neteenth century m*%concept*on o6 mora ach*e7ementE a m*%concept*on howe7er wh*ch *t on y *nher*ted 6rom the trad*t*ona theory o6 6*:ed end%+ attempt*n$ to bo %ter ('+*" up that doctr*ne w*th a*d 6rom the '%c*ent*6*c ' theory o6 e7o ut*on. 9he doctr*ne o6 pro$re%% *% not yet bankrupt. 9he bankruptcy o6 the not*on o6 6*:ed $ood% to be atta*ned and %tab y po%%e%%ed may po%%*b y be the mean% o6 turn*n$ the m*nd o6 man to a tenab e theory o6 pro$re%%E to attent*on to pre%ent troub e% and po%%*b* *t*e%. ;dherent% o6 the *dea that betterment+ $rowth *n $oodne%%+ con%*%t% *n appro:*mat*on to an e:hau%t*7e+ %tab e+ *mmutab e end or $ood+ ha7e been compe ed to reco$n*Be the truth that *n 6act we en7*%a$e the $ood *n %pec*6*c term% that are re at*7e to e:*%t*n$ need%+ and that the atta*nment o6 e7ery %pec*6*c $ood mer$e% *n%en%*b y *nto a new cond*t*on o6 ma adju%tment w*th *t%+ need o6 a new end and a renewed e66ort. "ut they ha7e e aborated an *n$en*ou% d*a ect*ca theory to account 6or the 6act% wh* e ma*nta*n*n$ the*r theory *ntact. 9he $oa + the *dea + *% *n6*n*te@ man *% 6*n*te+ %ubject to cond*t*on% *mpo%ed by %pace and t*me. 9he %pec*6*c character o6 the end% wh*ch man enterta*n% and o6 the %at*%6act*on he ach*e7e% *% due there6ore prec*%e y to h*% emp*r*ca and 6*n*te nature *n *t% contra%t w*th the *n6*n*te and comp ete character o6 the true rea *ty+ the end. (on%e<uent y when man reache% what he had taken to be the de%t*nat*on o6 h*% journey he 6*nd% that he ha% on y $one a p*ece on the road. 8n. 6*n*te 7*%ta% %t* %tretch be6ore h*m. ;$a*n he %et% h*% mark a *tt e way 6urther ahead+ and a$a*n when he reache% the %tat*on %et+ he 6*nd% the road open*n$ be6ore h*m *n une:pected way%+ and %ee% new d*%tant object% ('++" beckon*n$ h*m 6orward. Cuch *% the popu ar doctr*ne. "y %ome %tran$e per7er%*on th*% theory pa%%e% 6or mora *dea *%m. ;n o66*ce o6 *n%p*rat*on and $u*dance *% attr*buted to the thou$ht o6 the $oa o6 u t*mate comp etene%% or per6ect*on. ;% matter o6 6act+ the *dea %*ncere y he d br*n$% d*%coura$ement and de%pa*r not *n%p*rat*on or hope6u ne%%. 9here *% %ometh*n$ e*ther ud*crou% or tra$*c *n the not*on that *n%p*rat*on to cont*nued pro$re%% *% had *n te *n$ man that no matter what he doe% or what he ach*e7e%+ the outcome *% ne$ *$*b e *n compar*%on w*th what he %et out to ach*e7e+ that e7ery endea7or he make% *% bound to turn out a 6a* ure compared w*th what %hou d be done+ that e7ery atta*ned %at*%6act*on *% on y 6ore7er bound to be on y a d*%appo*ntment. 9he hone%t conc u%*on *% pe%%*m*%m. ; *% 7e:at*on+ and the $reater the e66ort the $reater the 7e:at*on. "ut the 6act *% that *t *% not the ne$at*7e a%pect o6 an outcome+ *t% 6a* ure to reach *n6*n*ty+ wh*ch renew% coura$e and hope. Po%*t*7e atta*nment+ actua enr*chment o6 mean*n$ and power% open% new 7*%ta% and %et% new ta%k%+ create% new a*m% and %t*mu ate% new e66ort%. 9he 6act% are not %uch a% to y*e d unth*nk*n$ opt*m*%m and con%o at*on@ 6or they render *t *mpo%%*b e to re%t upon atta*ned $ood%. ,ew %tru$$ e% and 6a* ure% are *ne7*tab e. 9he tota %cene o6 act*on rema*n% a% be6ore+ on y 6or u% more comp e:+ and more %ubt y un%tab e. "ut th*% 7ery %*tuat*on *% a con%e<uence o6 e:pan%*on+ not o6 6a* ure% o6 power+ and when $ra%ped and adm*tted *t *% a cha en$e to *nte *$ence. 8n%truct*on *n what to do ne:t can ne7er come ('+!" 6rom an *n6*n*te $oa + wh*ch 6or u% *% bound to be empty. 8t can be der*7ed on y 6rom %tudy o6 the de6*c*enc*e%+ *rre$u ar*t*e% and po%%*b* *t*e% o6 the actua %*tuat*on. 8n any ca%e+ howe7er+ ar$ument% about pe%%*m*%m and opt*m*%m ba%ed upon con%*derat*on% re$ard*n$ 6*:ed atta*nment o6 $ood and e7* are ma*n y *terary *n <ua *ty. ; an cont*nue% to *7e becau%e he *% a *7*n$ creature not becau%e rea%on con7*nce% h*m o6 the certa*nty or probab* *ty o6 6uture %at*%6act*on% and ach*e7ement%+ )e *% *n%t*nct w*th act*7*t*e% that carry h*m on. 8nd*7*dua % here and there ca7e *n+ and mo%t *nd*7*dua % %a$+ w*thdraw and %eek re6u$e at th*% and that po*nt. "ut man a% man %t* ha% the dumb p uck o6 the an*ma . )e ha% endurance+ hope+ cur*o%*ty+ ea$erne%%+ o7e o6 act*on. 9he%e tra*t% be on$ to h*m by %tructure+ not by tak*n$ thou$ht. Memory o6 pa%t and 6ore%*$ht o6 6uture con7ert dumbne%% to %ome de$ree o6 art*cu atene%%. 9hey * um*ne 1#

cur*o%*ty and %teady coura$e+ 9hen when the 6uture arr*7e% w*th *t% *ne7*tab e d*%appo*ntment% a% we a% 6u 6* ment%+ and w*th new %ource% o6 troub e+ 6a* ure o%e% %ometh*n$ o6 *t% 6ata *ty+ and %u66er*n$ y*e d% 6ru*t o6 *n%truct*on not o6 b*tterne%%. )um* *ty *% more demanded at our moment% o6 tr*umph than at tho%e o6 6a* ure. >or hum* *ty *% not a cad26*%h %e 62deprec*at*on. 8t *% the %en%e o6 our % *$ht *nab* *ty e7en w*th our be%t *nte *$ence and e66ort to command e7ent%@ a %en%e o6 our dependence upon 6orce% that $o the*r way w*thout our w*%h and p an. 8t% purport *% not to re a: e66ort but to make u% pr*Be e7ery opportun*ty o6 pre%ent $rowth. 8n ('!$" mora %+ the *n6*n*t*7e and the *mperat*7e de7e op 6rom the part*c*p e+ pre%ent ten%e. Per6ect*on mean% per6ect*n$+ 6u 6* ment+ 6u 6* *n$+ and the $ood *% now or ne7er. 8dea *%t*c ph* o%oph*e%+ tho%e o6 P ato+ ;r*%tot e+ Cp*noBa+ *ke the hypothe%*% now o66ered+ ha7e 6ound the $ood *n mean*n$% be on$*n$ to a con%c*ou% *6e+ a *6e o6 rea%on+ not *n e:terna ach*e7ement. .*ke *t+ they ha7e e:a ted the p ace o6 *nte *$ence *n %ecur*n$ 6u 6* ment o6 con%c*ou% *6e. 9he%e theor*e% ha7e at ea%t not %ubord*nated con%c*ou% *6e to e:terna obed*ence+ not thou$ht o6 7*rtue a% %ometh*n$ d*66erent 6rom e:ce ence o6 *6e. "ut they %et up a tran%cendenta mean*n$ and rea%on+ remote 6rom pre%ent e:per*ence and oppo%ed to *t@ or they *n%*%t upon a %pec*a 6orm o6 mean*n$ and con%c*ou%ne%% to be atta*ned by pecu *ar mode% o6 know ed$e *nacce%%*b e to the common man+ *n7o 7*n$ not cont*nuou% recon%truct*on o6 ord*nary e:per*ence+ but *t% who e%a e re7er%a . 9hey ha7e treated re$enerat*on+ chan$e o6 heart+ a% who e%a e and %e 62enc o%ed+ not a% cont*nuou%. 9he ut* *tar*an% a %o made $ood and e7* + r*$ht and wron$+ matter% o6 con%c*ou% e:per*ence. 8n add*t*on they brou$ht them down to earth+ to e7eryday e:per*ence. 9hey %tro7e to human*Be other2 wor d y +rood%. "ut they reta*ned the not*on that the $ood *% 6uture+ and hence out%*de the mean*n$ o6 pre%ent act*7*ty. 8n %o 6ar *t *% %porad*c+ e:cept*ona + %ubject to acc*dent+ pa%%*7e+ an enjoyment not a joy+ %ometh*n$ h*t upon+ not a 6u 6* *n$. 9he 6uture end *% 6or them not so ('!1" remote 6rom pre%ent act*on a% the P aton*c rea m o6 *dea %+ or a% the ;r*%tote *an rat*ona thou$ht+ or the (hr*%t*an hea7en+ or Cp*noBa?% concept*on o6 the un*7er%a who e. "ut %t* *t *% %eparate *n pr*nc*p e and *n 6act 6rom pre%ent act*7*ty. 9he ne:t %tep *% to *dent*6y the %ou$ht 6or $ood w*th the mean*n$ o6 our *mpu %e% and our hab*t%+ and the %pec*6*c moral $ood or 7*rtue w*th learning th*% mean*n$+ a earn*n$ that take% u% back not *nto an *%o ated %e 6 but out *nto the open2a*r wor d o6 object% and %oc*a t*e%+ term*nat*n$ *n an *ncrement o6 pre%ent %*$n*6*cance. Doubt e%% there are tho%e who w* th*nk that we thu% e%cape 6rom remote and e:terna end% on y to 6a *nto an =p*curean*%m wh*ch teache% u% to %ubord*nate e7eryth*n$ e %e to pre%ent %at*%6act*on%. 9he hypothe%*% pre6erred may %eem to %ome to ad7*%e a %ubject*7e+ %e 62centered *6e o6 *nten%*6*ed con%c*ou%ne%%+ an e%thet*ca y d* ettante type o6 e$o*%m. >or *% not *t% e%%on that we %hou d concentrate attent*on+ each upon the con%c*ou%ne%% accompany*n$ h*% act*on %o a% to re6*ne and de7e op *tG 8% not th*%+ *ke a %ubject*7e mora %+ an ant*2%oc*a doctr*ne+ *n%truct*n$ u% to %ubord*nate the object*7e con%e<uence% o6 our act%+ tho%e wh*ch promote the we 6are o6 other%+ to an enr*chment o6 our pr*7ate con%c*ou% *7e%G 8t can hard y be den*ed that a% compared w*th the do$ma% a$a*n%t wh*ch *t reacted there *% an e ement o6 truth *n =p*curean*%m. 8t %tro7e to center attent*on upon what *% actua y w*th*n contro and to 6*nd the $ood *n the pre%ent *n%tead o6 *n a cont*n$ent uncer2 ('!'" 2ta*n 6uture. 9he troub e w*th *t *e% *n *t% account o6 pre%ent $ood. 8t 6a* ed to connect th*% $ood w*th the 6u reach o6 act*7*t*e%. 8t contemp ated $ood o6 w*thdrawa rather than o6 act*7e part*c*pat*on. 9hat *% to %ay+ the object*on to =p*curean*%m *e% *n *t% concept*on o6 what con%t*tute% pre%ent $ood+ not *n *t% empha%*% upon %at*%6act*on a% at pre%ent. 9he %ame remark may be made about e7ery theory wh*ch reco$n*Be% the *nd*7*dua %e 6. 86 any %uch theory *% object*onab e+ the object*on *% a$a*n%t the character or <ua *ty a%%*$ned to the %e 6. F6 cour%e an *nd*7*dua *% the bearer or carr*er o6 e:per*ence. 5hat o6 thatG =7eryth*n$ depend% upon the k*nd o6 e:per*ence that center% *n h*m. ,ot the re%*dence o6 e:per*ence count%+ but *t% content%+ what?% *n the hou%e. 9he center *% not *n the ab%tract amenab e to our contro + but what $ather% about *t *% our a66a*r. 5e can?t he p be*n$ *nd*7*dua %e 7e%+ each one o6 u%. 86 %e 6hood a% %uch *% a bad th*n$+ the b ame *e% not w*th the %e 6 but w*th the un*7er%e+ w*th pro7*dence. "ut *n 6act the d*%t*nct*on between a %e 6*%hne%% w*th wh*ch we 6*nd 6au t and an 14

un%e 6*%hne%% wh*ch we e%teem *% 6ound *n the <ua *ty o6 the act*7*t*e% wh*ch proceed 6rom and enter *nto the %e 6+ accord*n$ a% they are contract*7e+ e:c u%*7e+ or e:pan%*7e outreach*n$. Mean*n$ e:*%t% 6or %ome %e 6+ but th*% tru*%t*c 6act doe%n?t 6*: the <ua *ty o6 any part*cu ar mean*n$. 8t may be %uch a% to make the %e 6 %ma + or %uch a% to e:a t and d*$n*6y the %e 6. 8t *% a% *mpert*nent to decry the worth o6 e:per*ence becau%e *t *% connected w*th a %e 6 a% *t *% 6anta%t*c to ('!(" *dea *Be per%ona *ty +ju%t a% per%ona *ty a%*de 6rom the <ue%t*on what %ort o6 a per%on one *%. Fther per%on% are %e 7e% too. 86 one?% own pre%ent e:per*ence *% to be deprec*ated *n *t% mean*n$ becau%e *t center% *n a %e 6+ why act 6or the we 6are o6 other%G Ce 6*%hne%% 6or %e 6*%hne%%+ one *% a% $ood a% another@ our own *% worth a% much a% another?%. "ut the reco$n*t*on that $ood *% a way% 6ound *n a pre%ent $rowth o6 %*$n*6*cance *n act*7*ty protect% u% 6rom th*nk*n$ that we 6are can con%*%t *n a %oup2k*tchen happ*ne%%+ *n p ea%ure% we can con6er upon other% 6rom w*thout. 8t %how% that $ood *% the %ame *n <ua *ty where7er *t *% 6ound+ whether *n %ome other %e 6 or *n one?% own. ;n act*7*ty ha% mean*n$ *n the de$ree *n wh*ch *t e%tab *%he% and acknow ed$e% 7ar*ety and *nt*macy o6 connect*on%. ;% on$ a% any %oc*a *mpu %e endure%+ %o on$ an act*7*ty that %hut% *t%e 6 o66 w* br*n$ *nward d*%%at*%6act*on and enta* a %tru$$ e 6or compen%atory $ood%+ no matter what p ea%ure% or e:terna %ucce%%e% acc a*m *t% cour%e. 9o %ay that the we 6are o6 other%+ *ke our own+ con%*%t% *n a w*den*n$ and deepen*n$ o6 the percept*on% that $*7e act*7*ty *t% mean*n$+ *n an educat*7e $rowth+ *% to %et 6orth a propo%*t*on o6 po *t*ca *mport. 9o 'make other% happy ' e:cept throu$h *berat*n$ the*r power% and en$a$*n$ them *n act*7*t*e% that en ar$e the mean*n$ o6 *6e *% to harm them and to *ndu $e our%e 7e% under co7er o6 e:erc*%*n$ a %pec*a 7*rtue. Fur mora mea%ure 6or e%t*mat*n$ any e:*%t*n$ arran$ement or any propo%ed re6orm *% *t% e66ect upon ('!)" *mpu %e and hab*t%. Doe% *t *berate or %uppre%%+ o%%*6y or render 6 e:*b e+ d*7*de or un*6y *ntere%tG 8% percept*on <u*ckened or du edG 8% memory made apt and e:ten%*7e or narrow and d*66u%e y *rre e7antG 8% *ma$*nat*on d*7erted to 6anta%y and compen%atory dream%+ or doe% *t add 6ert* *ty to *6eG 8% thou$ht creat*7e or pu%hed one %*de *nto pedant*c %pec*a *%m%G 9here *% a %en%e *n wh*ch to %et up %oc*a we 6are a% an end o6 act*on on y promote% an o66en%*7e conde%cen%*on+ a har%h *nter6erence+ or an o ea$*nou% d*%p ay o6 comp acent k*nd *ne%%. 8t a way% tend% *n th*% d*rect*on when *t *% a*med at $*7*n$ happ*ne%% to other% d*rect y+ that *%+ a% we can hand a phy%*ca th*n$ to another. 9o 6o%ter cond*t*on% that w*den the hor*Bon o6 other% and $*7e them command o6 the*r own power%+ %o that they can 6*nd the*r own happ*ne%% *n the*r own 6a%h*on+ *% the way o6 ' %oc*a ' act*on. Ftherw*%e the prayer o6 a 6reeman wou d be to be e6t a one+ and to be de *7ered+ abo7e a + 6rom 're6ormer% ' and ' k*nd ' peop e. 222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 http://www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Dewey/Dewey_1922/Dewey1922_25.htm !"ajado e 2# de a$o%to de 2011&

Originally published as:

John Dewey. 'Mora % are human+' Human Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to Social Psychology. ,ew -ork: Modern .*brary /19220: 2952#02.

Part ): Conclusion: 1ection II: -orals are human

C*nce mora % *% concerned w*th conduct+ *t $row% out o6 %pec*6*c emp*r*ca 6act%. ; mo%t a *n6 uent*a mora theor*e%+ w*th the e:cept*on o6 the ut* *tar*an+ ha7e re6u%ed to adm*t th*% *dea. >or (hr*%tendom a% a who e+ mora *ty ha% been connected w*th %upernatura command%+ reward% and pena t*e%. 9ho%e who ha7e e%caped th*% %uper%t*t*on ha7e contented them%e 7e% w*th con7ert*n$ the d*66erence between th*% wor d and the neat *nto a d*%t*nct*on between the actua and the *dea + what *% and what %hou d be. 9he actua wor d ha% not been %urrendered to the de7* *n name+ but *t *% 15

treated a% a d*%p ay o6 phy%*ca 6orce% *ncapab e o6 $enerat*n$ mora 7a ue%. (on%e<uent y+ mora con%*derat*on% mu%t be *ntroduced 6rom abo7e. )uman nature may not be o66*c*a y dec ared to be *n6ected becau%e o6 %ome abor*$*na %*n+ but *t *% %a*d to be %en%uou%+ *mpu %*7e+ %ubjected to nece%%*ty+ wh* e natura *nte *$ence *% %uch that *t cannot r*%e abo7e a reckon*n$ o6 pr*7ate e:ped*ency. "ut *n 6act mora % *% the mo%t humane o6 a %ubject%. 8t *% that wh*ch *% c o%e%t to human nature@ *t *% *nerad*cab y emp*r*ca + not theo o$*ca nor metaphy%*ca nor mathemat*ca . C*nce *t d*rect y concern% human nature+ e7eryth*n$ that can be known o6 the human m*nd and body *n phy%*o o$y+ med*c*ne+ anthro2 ('!#" 2po o$y+ and p%ycho o$y *% pert*nent to mora *n<u*ry. )uman nature e:*%t% and operate% *n an en7*ronment. ;nd *t *% not ' *n ' that en7*ronment a% co*n% are *n a bo:+ but a% a p ant *% *n the %un *$ht and %o* . 8t *% o6 them+ cont*nuou% w*th the*r ener$*e%+ dependent upon the*r %upport+ capab e o6 *ncrea%e on y a% *t ut* *Be% them+ and a% *t $radua y rebu* d% 6rom the*r crude *nd*66erence an en7*ronment $en*a y c*7* *Bed. )ence phy%*c%+ chem*%try+ h*%tory+ %tat*%t*c%+ en$*neer*n$ %c*ence+ are a part o6 d*%c*p *ned mora know ed$e %o 6ar a% they enab e u% to under%tand the cond*t*on% and a$enc*e% throu$h wh*ch man *7e%+ and on account o6 wh*ch he 6orm% and e:ecute% h*% p an%. Mora %c*ence *% not %ometh*n$ w*th a %eparate pro7*nce. 8t *% phy%*ca + b*o o$*ca and h*%tor*c know ed$e p aced *n a human conte:t where *t w* * um*nate and $u*de the act*7*t*e% o6 men. 9he path o6 truth *% narrow and %tra*tened. 8t *% on y too ea%y to wander beyond the cour%e 6rom th*% %*de to that. 8n a react*on 6rom that error wh*ch ha% made mora % 6anat*c or 6anta%t*c+ %ent*menta or author*tat*7e by %e7er*n$ them 6rom actua 6act% and 6orce%+ theor*%t% ha7e $one to the other e:treme. 9hey ha7e *n%*%ted that natura aw% are them%e 7e% mora aw%+ %o that *t rema*n%+ a6ter not*n$ them+ on y to con6orm to them. 9h*% doctr*ne o6 accord w*th nature ha% u%ua y marked a tran%*t*on per*od. 5hen mytho o$y *% dy*n$ *n *t% open 6orm%+ and when %oc*a *6e *% %o d*%turbed that cu%tom and trad*t*on 6a* to %upp y the*r wonted contro + men re%ort to ,ature a% a norm. ('!*" 9hey app y to ,ature a the eu o$*%t*c pred*cate% pre7*ou% y a%%oc*ated w*th d*7*ne aw@ or natura aw *% conce*7ed o6 a% the on y true d*7*ne aw. 9h*% happened *n one 6orm *n Cto*c*%m. 8t happened *n another 6orm *n the de*%m o6 the e*$hteenth century w*th *t% not*on o6 a bene7o ent+ harmon*ou%+ who y rat*ona order o6 ,ature. 8n our t*me th*% not*on ha% been perpetuated *n connect*on w*th a a*%%eB26a*re %oc*a ph* o%ophy and the theory o6 e7o ut*on. )uman *nte *$ence *% thou$ht to mark an art*6*c*a *nter6erence *6 *t doe% more than re$*%ter 6*:ed natura aw% a% ru e% o6 human act*on. 9he proce%% o6 natura e7o ut*on *% conce*7ed a% the e:act mode o6 human endea7or. 9he two *dea% met *n Cpencer. 9o the ' en *$htened ' o6 a 6ormer $enerat*on+. Cpencer?% e7o ut*onary ph* o%ophy %eemed to a66ord a %c*ent*6*c %anct*on 6or the nece%%*ty o6 mora pro$re%%+ wh* e *t a %o pro7ed+ up to the h* t+ the 6ut* *ty o6 de *berate ' *nter6erence ' w*th the bene7o ent operat*on% o6 nature. 9he *dea o6 +ju%t*ce wa% *dent*6*ed w*th the aw o6 cau%e and e66ect. 9ran%$re%%*on o6 natura aw wrou$ht *n the %tru$$ e 6or e:*%tence *t% own pena ty o6 e *m*nat*on+ and con6orm*ty w*th *t brou$ht the reward o6 *ncrea%ed 7*ta *ty and happ*ne%%. "y th*% proce%% e$o*%t*c de%*re *% $radua y com*n$ *nto harmony w*th the nece%%*ty o6 t* t? en7*ronment+ t* at a%t the *nd*7*dua automat*ca y 6*nd% happ*ne%% *n do*n$ what the natura and %oc*a en7*ronment demand%+ and %er7e% h*m%e 6 *n %er7*n$ other%. >rom th*% po*nt o6 7*ew+ ear *er ' %c*ent*6*c ' ph* o%opher% made a m*%take+ but ('!+" on y the m*%take o6 ant*c*pat*n$ the date o6 comp ete natura harmony. ; that rea%on can do *% to acknow ed$e the e7o ut*onary 6orce%+ and thereby re6ra*n 6rom retard*n$ the arr*7a o6 the happy day o6 per6ect harmony. Meant*me ju%t*ce demand% that the weak and *$norant %u66er the e66ect o6 7*o at*on o6 natura aw+ wh* e the w*%e and ab e reap the reward% o6 the*r %uper*or*ty. 9he 6undamenta de6ect o6 %uch 7*ew% *% that they 6a* to %ee the d*66erence made *n cond*t*on% and ener$*e% by percept*on o6 them. 8t *% the 6*r%t bu%*ne%% o6 m*nd to be ' rea *%t*c+' to %ee th*n$% ' a% they are.' 86+ 6or e:amp e+ b*o o$y can $*7e u% know ed$e o6 the cau%e% o6 competency and *ncompetency+ %tren$th and weakne%%+ that know ed$e *% a to the $ood. ; non%ent*menta mora % w* %eek 6or a the *n%truct*on natura %c*ence can $*7e concern*n$ the b*o o$*ca cond*t*on% and con%e<uence% o6 *n6er*or*ty and %uper*or*ty. "ut know ed$e o6 6act% doe% not enta* con6orm*ty and 1K

ac<u*e%cence. 9he contrary *% the ca%e. Percept*on o6 th*n$% a% they are *% but a %ta$e *n the proce%% o6 mak*n$ them d*66erent. 9hey ha7e a ready be$un to be d*66erent *n be*n$ known+ 6or by that 6act they enter *nto a d*66erent conte:t+ a conte:t o6 6ore%*$ht and jud$ment o6 better and wor%e. ; 6a %e p%ycho o$y o6 a %eparate rea m o6 con%c*ou%ne%% *% the on y rea%on th*% 6act *% not $enera y acknow ed$ed. Mora *ty re%*de% not *n percept*on o6 6act+ but *n the u%e made o6 *t% percept*on. 8t *% a mon%trou% a%%umpt*on that *t% %o e u%e *% to utter bened*ct*on% upon 6act and *t% ('!!" o66%pr*n$. 8t *% the part o6 *nte *$ence to te when to u%e the 6act to con6orm and perpetuate+ and when to u%e *t to 7ary cond*t*on% and con%e<uence%. 8t *% ab%urd to %uppo%e that know ed$e about the connect*on between *n6er*or*ty and *t% con%e<uence% pre%cr*be% adherence to that connect*on. 8t *% *ke %uppo%*n$ that know ed$e o6 the connect*on between ma ar*a and mo%<u*toe% enjo*n% breed*n$ mo%<u*toe%. 9he 6act when *t *% known enter% *nto a new en7*ronment. 5*thout cea%*n$ to be on$ to the phy%*ca en7*ronment *t enter% a %o *nto a med*um o6 human act*7*t*e%+ o6 de%*re% and a7er%*on%+ hab*t% and *n%t*nct%. 8t thereby $a*n% new potenc*e%+ new capac*t*e%. Junpowder *n water doe% not act the %ame a% $unpowder ne:t a 6 ame. ; 6act known doe% not operate the %ame a% a 6act unperce*7ed. 5hen *t *% known *t come% *nto contact w*th the 6 ame o6 de%*re and the co d bath o6 ant*pathy. Lnow ed$e o6 the cond*t*on% that breed *ncapac*ty may 6*t *nto %ome de%*re to ma*nta*n other% *n that %tate wh* e a7ert*n$ *t 6or one?% %e 6. Fr *t may 6a *n w*th a character wh*ch 6*nd% *t%e 6 b ocked by %uch 6act%+ and there6ore %tr*7e% to u%e know ed$e o6 cau%e% to make a chan$e *n e66ect%. Mora *ty be$*n% at th*% po*nt o6 u%e o6 know ed$e o6 natura aw+ a u%e 7ary*n$ w*th the act*7e %y%tem o6 d*%po%*t*on% and de%*re%. 8nte *$ent act*on 1% not concerned w*th the bare con%e<uence% o6 the th*n$ known+ but w*th con%e<uence% to be brou$ht *nto e:*%tence by act*on cond*t*oned on the know ed$e. Men may u%e the*r know ed$e to *nduce con6orm*ty or e:a$$erat*on+ or to e66ect chan$e and abo *t*on o6 con2 (($$" 2d*t*on%. 9he <ua *ty o6 the%e con%e<uence% determ*ne% the <ue%t*on o6 better or wor%e. 9he e:a$$erat*on o6 the harmony attr*buted to ,ature arou%ed men to note *t% d*%harmon*e%. ;n opt*m*%t*c 7*ew o6 natura bene7o ence wa% 6o owed by a more hone%t+ e%% romant*c 7*ew o6 %tru$$ e and con6 *ct *n nature. ;6ter )e 7et*u% and "entham came Ma thu% and Darw*n. 9he prob em o6 mora % *% the prob em o6 de%*re and *nte *$ence. 5hat *% to be done w*th the%e 6act% o6 d*%harmony and con6 *ctG ;6ter we ha7e d*%co7ered the p ace and con%e<uence% o6 con6 *ct *n nature+ we ha7e %t* to d*%co7er *t% p ace and work*n$ *n human need and thou$ht. 5hat *% *t% o66*ce+ *t% 6unct*on+ *t% po%%*b* *ty+ or u%eG 8n $enera + the an%wer *% %*mp e. (on6 *ct *% the $ad6 y o6 thou$ht. 8t %t*r% u% to ob%er7at*on and memory. 8t *n%t*$ate% to *n7ent*on. 8t %hock% u% out o6 %heep2 *ke pa%%*7*ty+ and %et% u% at not*n$ and contr*7*n$. ,ot that *t a way% e66ect% th*% re%u t@ but that con6 *ct *% a sine qua non o6 re6 ect*on and *n$enu*ty. 5hen th*% po%%*b* *ty o6 mak*n$ u%e o6 con6 *ct ha% once been noted+ *t *% po%%*b e to ut* *Be *t %y%temat*ca y to %ub%t*tute the arb*trat*on o6 m*nd 6or that o6 bruta attack and brute co ap%e. "ut the tendency to take natura aw 6or a norm o6 act*on wh*ch the %uppo%ed y %c*ent*6*c ha7e *nher*ted 6rom e*$hteenth century rat*ona *%m ead% to an *dea *Bat*on o6 the pr*nc*p e o6 con6 *ct *t%e 6. 8t% o66*ce *n promot*n$ pro$re%% throu$h arou%*n$ *nte *$ence *% o7er ooked+ and *t *% erected *nto the $enerator o6 pro$re%%. Lar Mar: borrowed 6rom the d*a ect*c o6 )e$e the *dea o6 the (($1" nece%%*ty o6 a ne$at*7e e ement+ o6 oppo%*t*on+ 6or ad7ance. )e projected *t *nto %oc*a a66a*r% and reached the conc u%*on that a %oc*a de7e opment come% 6rom con6 *ct between c a%%e%+ and that there6ore c a%%2war6are *% to be cu t*7ated. )ence a %uppo%ed y %c*ent*6*c 6orm o6 the doctr*ne o6 %oc*a e7o ut*on preache% %oc*a ho%t* *ty a% the road to %oc*a harmony. 8t wou d be d*66*cu t to 6*nd a more %tr*k*n$ *n%tance o6 what happen% when natura e7ent% are $*7en a %oc*a and pract*ca %anct*6*cat*on. Darw*n*%m ha% been %*m* ar y u%ed to ju%t*6y war and the bruta *t*e% o6 compet*t*on 6or wea th and power. 9he e:cu%e+ the pro7ocat*on+ thou$h not the ju%t*6*cat*on 6or %uch a doctr*ne *% 6ound *n the act*on% o6 tho%e who %ay peace+ peace+ when there *% no peace+ who re6u%e to reco$n*Be 6act% a% they are+ who proc a*m a natura harmony o6 wea th and mer*t+ o6 cap*ta and abor+ and the natura ju%t*ce+ *n the ma*n+ o6 e:*%t*n$ cond*t*on%. 9here *% %ometh*n$ horr*b e+ %ometh*n$ that make% one 6ear 6or c*7* *Bat*on+ *n denunc*at*on% o6 c a%%2d*66erence% and c a%% %tru$$ e% wh*ch proceed 6rom a c a%% *n power+ one that *% %e*B*n$ e7ery mean%+ e7en to a monopo y o6 mora *dea %+ to carry on *t% %tru$$ e 13

6or c a%%2power. 9h*% c a%% add% hypocr*%y to con6 *ct and br*n$% a *dea *%m *nto d*%repute. 8t doe% e7eryth*n$ wh*ch *n$enu*ty and pre%t*$e can do to $*7e co or to the a%%ert*on% o6 tho%e who %ay that a mora con%*derat*on% are *rre e7ant+ and that the *%%ue *% one o6 brute tr*a o6 6orce% between th*% %*de and that. 9he a ternat*7e+ here a% e %ewhere+ *% not between deny*n$ (($'" 6act% *n beha 6 o6 %ometh*n$ termed mora *dea % and accept*n$ 6act% a% 6*na . 9here rema*n% the po%%*b* *ty o6 reco$n*B*n$ 6act% and u%*n$ them a% a cha en$e to *nte *$ence to mod*6y the en7*ronment and chan$e hab*t%. 222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 http://www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Dewey/Dewey_1922/Dewey1922_23.htm !"ajado e 2# de a$o%to de 2011&

Originally published as:

John Dewey. 'Mora *ty *% Coc*a '+ Human Nature and Conduct: An Introduction to Social Psychology. ,ew -ork: Modern .*brary /19220: #142##2.

Part ): Conclusion: IV: -orality is 1ocial

8nte *$ence become% our% *n the de$ree *n wh*ch we u%e *t and accept re%pon%*b* *ty 6or con%e<uence%. 8t *% not our% or*$*na y or by product*on. ' 8t th*nk% ' *% a truer p%ycho o$*ca %tatement than ' 8 th*nk.' 9hou$ht% %prout and 7e$etate@ *dea% pro *6erate. 9hey come 6rom deep uncon%c*ou% %ource%. ' 8 th*nk ' *% a %tatement about 7o untary act*on. Come %u$$e%t*on %ur$e% 6rom the unknown. Fur act*7e body o6 hab*t% appropr*ate% *t. 9he %u$$e%t*on then become% an a%%ert*on. 8t no on$er mere y come% to u%. 8t *% accepted and uttered by u%. 5e act upon *t and thereby a%%ume+ by *mp *cat*on+ *t% con%e<uence%. 9he %tu66 o6 be *e6 and propo%*t*on *% not or*$*nated by u%. 8t come% to u% 6rom other%+ by educat*on+ trad*t*on and the %u$$e%t*on o6 the en7*ronment. Fur *nte *$ence *% bound up+ %o 6ar a% *t% mater*a % are concerned+ w*th the commun*ty *6e o6 wh*ch we are a part. 5e know what *t commun*cate% to u%+ and know accord*n$ to the hab*t% *t 6orm% *n u%. Cc*ence *% an a66a*r o6 c*7* *Bat*on not o6 *nd*7*dua *nte ect. Co w*th con%c*ence. 5hen a ch* d act%+ tho%e about h*m re2act. 9hey %hower encoura$ement upon h*m+ 7*%*t h*m w*th appro7a + or they be%tow 6rown% and rebuke. 5hat other% do to u% when we act *% a% natura a con%e<uence o6 our act*on a% what the 6*re doe% ((1 " to u% when we p un$e our hand% *n *t. 9he %oc*a en7*ronment may be a% art*6*c*a a% you p ea%e. "ut *t% act*on *n re%pon%e to our% *% natura not art*6*c*a . 8n an$ua$e and *ma$*nat*on we rehear%e the re%pon%e% o6 other% ju%t a% we dramat*ca y enact other con%e<uence%. 5e 6oreknow how other% w* act+ and the 6oreknow ed$e *% the be$*nn*n$ o6 jud$ment pa%%ed on act*on. 5e know w*th them @ there *% con%c*ence. ;:e a%%emb y *% 6ormed w*th*n our brea%t wh*ch d*%cu%%e% and appra*%e% propo%ed and per6ormed act%. 9he commun*ty w*thout become% a 6orum and tr*buna w*th*n+ a jud$ment2%eat o6 char$e%+ a%%e%%ment% and e:cu pat*on%. Fur thou$ht% o6 our own act*on% are %aturated w*th the *dea% that other% enterta*n about them+ *dea% wh*ch ha7e been e:pre%%ed not on y *n e:p *c*t *n%truct*on but %t* more e66ect*7e y *n react*on to our act%. .*ab* *ty *% the be$*nn*n$ o6 re%pon%*b* *ty. 5e are he d accountab e by other% 6or the con%e<uence% o6 our act%. 9hey 7*%*t the*r *ke and d*% *ke o6 the%e con%e<uence% upon u%. 8n 7a*n do we c a*m that the%e are not our%@ that they are product% o6 *$norance not de%*$n+ or are *nc*dent% *n the e:ecut*on o6 a mo%t audab e %cheme. 9he*r author%h*p *% *mputed to u%. 5e are d*%appro7ed+ and d*%appro7a *% not an *nner %tate o6 m*nd but a mo%t de6*n*te act. Fther% %ay to u% by the*r deed% we do not care a 6*$ whether you d*d th*% de *berate y or not. 5e *ntend that you %ha de *berate be6ore you do *t a$a*n+ and that *6 po%%*b e your de *berat*on %ha pre7ent a repet*t*on o6 th*% act we object to. 9he re6erence *n b ame and e7ery un6a7or2 ((1#" 2ab e jud$ment *% pro%pect*7e+ not retro%pect*7e. 9heor*e% about re%pon%*b* *ty may become con6u%ed+ but *n pract*ce no one *% %tup*d enou$h to try 11

to chan$e the pa%t. ;pprobat*on and d*%approbat*on are way% o6 *n6 uenc*n$ the 6ormat*on o6 hab*t% and a*m%@ that *%+ o6 *n6 uenc*n$ 6uture act%. 9he *nd*7*dua *% held accountab e 6or what he ha% done *n order that he may be re%pon%*7e *n what he *% $o*n$ to do. Jradua y Per%on% earn by dramat*c *m*tat*on to ho d them%e 7e% accountab e+ and *ab* *ty become% a 7o untary de *berate acknow ed$ment that deed% are our own+ that the*r con%e<uence% come 6rom u%. 9he%e two 6act%+ that mora jud$ment and mora re%pon%*b* *ty are the work wrou$ht *n u% by the %oc*a en7*ronment+ %*$n*6y that a mora *ty *% %oc*a @ not becau%e we ou$ht to take *nto account the e66ect o6 our act% upon the we 6are o6 other%+ but becau%e o6 6act%. Fther% do take account o6 what we do+ and they re%pond accord*n$ y to our act%. 9he*r re%pon%e% actua y do a66ect the mean*n$ o6 what we do. 9he %*$n*6*cance thu% contr*buted *% a% *ne7*tab e a% *% the e66ect o6 *nteract*on w*th the phy%*ca en7*ronment. 8n 6act a% c*7* *Bat*on ad7ance% the phy%*ca en7*ronment $et% *t%e 6 more and more human*Bed+ 6or the mean*n$ o6 phy%*ca ener$*e% and e7ent% become% *n7o 7ed w*th the part they p ay *n human act*7*t*e%. Fur conduct t *% %oc*a y cond*t*oned whether we perce*7e the 6act or not. 9he e66ect o6 cu%tom on hab*t+ and o6 hab*t upon thou$ht *% enou$h to pro7e th*% %tatement. 5hen we ((1*" be$*n to 6oreca%t con%e<uence%+ the con%e<uence% that mo%t %tand out are tho%e wh*ch w* proceed 6rom other peop e. 9he re%*%tance and the cooperat*on o6 other% *% the centra 6act *n the 6urtherance or 6a* ure o6 our %cheme%. (onnect*on% w*th oar 6e ow% 6urn*%h both the opportun*t*e% 6or act*on and the *n%trumenta *t*e% by wh*ch we take ad7anta$e o6 opportun*ty. ; o6 the act*on% o6 an *nd*7*dua bear the %tamp o6 h*% commun*ty a% a%%ured y a% doe% the an$ua$e he %peak%. D*66*cu ty *n read*n$ the %tamp *% due to 7ar*ety o6 *mpre%%*on% *n con%e<uence o6 member%h*p *n many $roup%. 9h*% %oc*a %aturat*on *%+ 8 repeat+ a matter o6 6act+ not o6 what %hou d be+ not o6 what *% de%*rab e or unde%*rab e. 8t doe% not $uarantee the r*$htne%% o6 $oodne%% o6 an act@ there *% no e:cu%e 6or th*nk*n$ o6 e7* act*on a% *nd*7*dua *%t*c and r*$ht act*on a% %oc*a . De *berate un%crupu ou% pur%u*t o6 %e 62*ntere%t *% a% much cond*t*oned upon %oc*a opportun*t*e%+ tra*n*n$ and a%%*%tance a% *% the cour%e o6 act*on prompted by a beam*n$ bene7o ence. 9he d*66erence *e% *n the <ua *ty and de$ree o6 the percept*on o6 t*e% and *nterdependenc*e%@ *n the u%e to wh*ch they are put. (on%*der the 6orm common y a%%umed today by %e 62%eek*n$@ name y command o6 money and econom*c power. Money *% a %oc*a *n%t*tut*on@ property *% a e$a cu%tom@ econom*c opportun*t*e% are dependent upon the %tate o6 %oc*ety@ the object% a*med at+ the reward% %ou$ht 6or+ are what they are becau%e o6 %oc*a adm*rat*on+ pre%t*$e+ compet*t*on and power. 86 moneymak*n$ *% mora y obno:*ou% *t *% becau%e o6 the way the%e ((1+" %oc*a 6act% are hand ed+ not becau%e a money2 mak*n$ man ha% w*thdrawn 6rom %oc*ety *nto an *%o ated %e 6hood or turned h*% back upon %oc*ety. )*% ' *nd*7*dua *%m ' *% not 6ound *n h*% or*$*na nature but *n h*% hab*t% ac<u*red under %oc*a *n6 uence%. 8t *% 6ound *n h*% concrete a*m%+ and the%e are re6 e:e% o6 %oc*a cond*t*on%. 5e 2 $rounded mora object*on to a mode o6 conduct re%t% upon the k*nd o6 %oc*a connect*on% that 6*$ure+ not upon ack o6 %oc*a a*m. ; man may attempt to ut* *Be %oc*a re at*on%h*p% 6or h*% own ad7anta$e *n an *ne<u*tab e way@ he may *ntent*ona y or uncon%c*ou% y try to make them 6eed one o6 h*% own appet*te%. 9hen he *% denounced a% e$o*%t*c. "ut both h*% cour%e o6 act*on and the d*%appro7a he *% %ubject to are 6act% within %oc*ety. 9hey are %oc*a phenomena. )e pur%ue% h*% unju%t ad7anta$e a% a %oc*a a%%et. =:p *c*t reco$n*t*on o6 th*% 6act *% a prere<u*%*te o6 *mpro7ement *n mora educat*on and o6 an *nte *$ent under%tand*n$ o6 the ch*e6 *dea% or ' cate$or*e% ' o6 mora %. Mora % *% a% much a matter o6 *nteract*on o6 a per%on w*th h*% %oc*a en7*ronment a% wa k*n$ *% an *nteract*on o6 e$% w*th a phy%*ca en7*ronment. 9he character o6 wa k*n$ depend% upon the %tren$th and competency o6 e$%. "ut *t a %o depend% upon whether a man *% wa k*n$ *n a bo$ or on a pa7ed %treet+ upon whether there *% a %a6e$uarded path %et a%*de or whether he ha% to wa k am*d dan$erou% 7eh*c e%. 86 the %tandard o6 mora % *% ow *t *% becau%e the educat*on $*7en by the *nteract*on o6 the *nd*7*dua w*th h*% %oc*a en2 ((1!" 27*ronment *% de6ect*7e. F6 what a7a* *% *t to preach una%%um*n$ %*mp *c*ty and contentment o6 *6e when communa adm*rat*on $oe% to the man who ' %ucceed% ' E who make% h*m%e 6 con%p*cuou% and en7*ed becau%e o6 command o6 money and other 6orm% o6 powerG 86 a ch* d $et% on by pee7*%hne%% or *ntr*$ue+ then other% are h*% accomp *ce% who a%%*%t *n the hab*t% 19

wh*ch are bu* t up. 9he not*on that an ab%tract ready2made con%c*ence e:*%t% *n *nd*7*dua % and that *t *% on y nece%%ary to make an occa%*ona appea to *t and to *ndu $e *n occa%*ona crude rebuke% and pun*%hment%+ *% a%%oc*ated w*th the cau%e% o6 ack o6 de6*n*t*7e and order y mora ad7ance. >or *t *% a%%oc*ated w*th ack o6 attent*on to %oc*a 6orce%. 9here *% a pecu *ar *ncon%*%tency *n the current *dea that mora % ought to be %oc*a . 9he *ntroduct*on o6 the mora ' ou$ht ' *nto the *dea conta*n% an *mp *c*t a%%ert*on that mora % depend upon %ometh*n$ apart 6rom %oc*a re at*on%. Mora % are %oc*a . 9he <ue%t*on o6 ou$ht+ %hou d be+ *% a <ue%t*on o6 better and wor%e *n %oc*a a66a*r%. 9he e:tent to wh*ch the we*$ht o6 theor*e% ha% been thrown a$a*n%t the percept*on o6 the p ace o6 %oc*a t*e% and connect*on% *n mora act*7*ty *% a 6a*r mea%ure o6 the e:tent to wh*ch %oc*a 6orce% work b *nd y and de7e op an acc*denta mora *ty. 9he ch*e6 ob%tac e 6or e:amp e to reco$n*B*n$ the truth o6 a propo%*t*on 6re<uent y %et 6orth *n the%e pa$e% to the e66ect that a conduct *% potent*a + *6 not actua + matter o6 mora jud$ment *% the hab*t o6 *dent*6y*n$ mora jud$ment w*th pra*%e and b ame. Co $reat *% the *n2 (('$" 26 uence o6 th*% hab*t that *t *% %a6e to %ay that e7ery pro6e%%ed mora *%t when he ea7e% the pa$e% o6 theory and 6ace% %ome actua *tem o6 h*% own or other%? beha7*or+ 6*r%t or ' *n%t*nct*7e y ' th*nk% o6 act% a% mora or non2 mora *n the de$ree *n wh*ch they are e:po%ed to condemnat*on or appro7a . ,ow th*% k*nd o6 jud$ment *% certa*n y not one wh*ch cou d pro6*tab y be d*%pen%ed w*th. 8t% *n6 uence *% much needed. "ut the tendency to e<uate *t w*th a mora jud$ment *% ar$e y re%pon%*b e 6or the current *dea that there *% a %harp *ne between mora conduct and a ar$er re$*on o6 nonmora conduct wh*ch *% a matter o6 e:ped*ency+ %hrewdne%%+ %ucce%% or manner%. Moreo7er th*% tendency *% a ch*e6 rea%on why the %oc*a 6orce% e66ect*7e *n %hap*n$ actua mora *ty work b *nd y and un%at*%6actor* y. Jud$ment *n wh*ch the empha%*% 6a % upon b ame and approbat*on ha% more heat than *$ht. 8t *% more emot*ona than *nte ectua . 8t *% $u*ded by cu%tom+ per%ona con7en*ence and re%entment rather than by *n%*$ht *nto cau%e% and con%e<uence%. 8t make% toward reduc*n$ mora *n%truct*on+ the educat*7e *n6 uence o6 %oc*a op*n*on+ to an *mmed*ate per%ona matter+ that *% to %ay+ to an adju%tment o6 per%ona *ke% and d*% *ke%. >au t26*nd*n$ create% re%entment *n the one b amed+ and appro7a + comp acency+ rather than a hab*t o6 %crut*n*B*n$ conduct object*7e y. 8t put% tho%e who are %en%*t*7e to the jud$ment% o6 other% *n a %tand*n$ de6en%*7e att*tude+ treat*n$ an apo o$et*c+ %e 62accu%*n$ and %e 62e:cu pat*n$ hab*t o6 m*nd when what *% needed *% an *mper%ona (('1" *mpart*a hab*t o6 ob%er7at*on. 'Mora ' per%on% $et %o occup*ed w*th de6end*n$ the*r conduct 6rom rea and *ma$*ned cr*t*c*%m that they ha7e *tt e t*me e6t to %ee what the*r act% rea y amount to+ and the hab*t o6 %e 6+ b ame *ne7*tab y e:tend% to *nc ude other% %*nce *t *% a hab*t. ,ow *t *% a who e%ome th*n$ 6or any one to be made aware that thou$ht e%%+ %e 62centered act*on on h*% part e:po%e% h*m to the *nd*$nat*on and d*% *ke o6 other%. 9here *% no one who can be %a6e y tru%ted to be e:empt 6rom *mmed*ate react*on% o6 cr*t*c*%m+ and there are 6ew who do not need to be braced by occa%*ona e:pre%%*on% o6 appro7a . "ut the%e *n6 uence% are *mmen%e y o7erdone *n compar*%on w*th the a%%*%tance that m*$ht be $*7en by the *n6 uence o6 %oc*a jud$ment% wh*ch operate w*thout accompan*ment% o6 pra*%e and b ame@ wh*ch enab e an *nd*7*dua to %ee 6or h*m%e 6 what he *% do*n$+ and wh*ch put h*m *n command o6 a method o6 ana yB*n$ the ob%cure and u%ua y una7owed 6orce% wh*ch mo7e h*m to act. 5e need a permeat*on o6 jud$ment% on conduct by the method and mater*a % o6 a %c*ence o6 human nature. 5*thout %uch en *$htenment e7en the be%t2 *ntent*oned attempt% at the mora $u*dance and *mpro7ement o6 other% o6ten e7entuate *n tra$ed*e% o6 m*%under%tand*n$ and d*7*%*on+ a% *% %o o6ten %een *n the re at*on% o6 parent% and ch* dren. 9he de7e opment there6ore o6 a more ade<uate %c*ence o6 human nature *% a matter o6 6*r%t2rate *mportance. 9he pre%ent re7o t a$a*n%t the not*on that p%y2 ((''" 2cho o$y *% a %c*ence o6 con%c*ou%ne%% may we turn out *n the 6uture to be the be$*nn*n$ o6 a de6*n*t*7e turn *n thou$ht and act*on. )*%tor*ca y there are $ood rea%on% 6or the *%o at*on and e:a$$erat*on o6 the con%c*ou% pha%e o6 human act*on+ an *%o at*on wh*ch 6or$ot that ' con%c*ou% ' *% an adject*7e o6 %ome act% and wh*ch erected the re%u t*n$ ab%tract*on+ ' con%c*ou%ne%%+' *nto a noun+ an e:*%tence %eparate and comp ete. 9he%e rea%on% are *ntere%t*n$ not on y to the %tudent o6 techn*ca ph* o%ophy but a %o to the %tudent o6 the h*%tory o6 cu ture and e7en o6 po *t*c%. 9hey ha7e to do w*th the attempt to dra$ rea *t*e% out 20

o6 occu t e%%ence% and h*dden 6orce% and $et them *nto the *$ht o6 day. 9hey were part o6 the $enera mo7ement ca ed phenomena *%m+ and o6 the $row*n$ *mportance o6 *nd*7*dua *6e and pr*7ate 7o untary concern%. "ut the e66ect wa% to *%o ate the *nd*7*dua 6rom h*% connect*on% both w*th h*% 6e ow% and w*th nature+ and thu% to create an art*6*c*a human nature+ one not capab e o6 be*n$ under%tood and e66ect*7e y d*rected on the ba%*% o6 ana yt*c under%tand*n$. 8t %hut out 6rom 7*ew+ not to %ay 6rom %c*ent*6*c e:am*nat*on+ the 6orce% wh*ch rea y mo7e human nature. 8t took a 6ew %ur6ace phenomena 6or the who e %tory o6 %*$n*6*cant human mot*7e26orce% and act%. ;% a con%e<uence phy%*ca %c*ence and *t% techno o$*ca app *cat*on% were h*$h y de7e oped wh* e the %c*ence o6 man+ mora %c*ence+ *% backward. 8 be *e7e that *t *% not po%%*b e to e%t*mate how much o6 the d*66*cu t*e% o6 the pre%ent wor d %*tuat*on are due to the (('(" d*%proport*on and unba ance thu% *ntroduced *nto a66a*r%. 8t wou d ha7e %eemed ab%urd to %ay *n the %e7enteenth century that *n the end the a terat*on *n method% o6 phy%*ca *n7e%t*$at*on wh*ch wa% then be$*nn*n$ wou d pro7e more *mportant than the re *$*ou% war% o6 that century. -et the war% marked the end o6 one era@ the dawn o6 phy%*ca %c*ence the be$*nn*n$ o6 a new one. ;nd a tra*ned *ma$*nat*on may d*%co7er that the nat*ona *%t*c and econom*c war% wh*ch are the ch*e6 outward mark o6 the pre%ent are *n the end to be e%% %*$n*6*cant than the de7e opment o6 a %c*ence o6 human nature now *nchoate. 8t %ound% academ*c to %ay that %ub%tant*a better*n$ o6 %oc*a re at*on% wa*t% upon the $rowth o6 a %c*ent*6*c %oc*a p%ycho o$y. >or the term %u$$e%t% %ometh*n$ %pec*a *Bed and remote. "ut the 6ormat*on o6 hab*t% o6 be *e6+ de%*re and jud$ment *% $o*n$ on at e7ery *n%tant c*nder the *n6 uence o6 the cond*t*on% %et by men?% contact+ *ntercour%e and a%%oc*at*on% w*th one another. 9h*% *% the 6undamenta 6act *n %oc*a *6e and *n per%ona character. 8t *% the 6act about wh*ch trad*t*ona human %c*ence $*7e% no en *$htenmentE a 6act wh*ch th*% trad*t*ona %c*ence b ur% and 7*rtua y den*e%. 9he enormou% ro e p ayed *n popu ar mora % by appea to the %upernatura and <ua%*2ma$*ca *% *n e66ect a de%perate adm*%%*on o6 the 6ut* *ty o6 our %c*ence. (on%e<uent y the who e matter o6 the 6ormat*on o6 the pred*%po%*t*on% wh*ch e66ect*7e y contro human re at*on+ %h*p% *% e6t to acc*dent+ to cu%tom and *mmed*ate per%ona *k*n$%+ re%entment% and amb*t*on%. 8t *% a com2 ((')" 2monp ace that modern *ndu%try and commerce are cond*t*oned upon a contro o6 phy%*ca ener$*e% due to proper method% o6 phy%*ca *n<u*ry and ana y%*%. 5P ha7e no %oc*a art% wh*ch are comparab e becau%e we ha7e %o near y noth*n$ *n the way o6 p%ycho o$*ca %c*ence. -et throu$h the de7e opment o6 phy%*ca %c*ence+ and e%pec*a y o6 chem*%try+ b*o o$y+ phy%*o o$y+ med*c*ne and anthropo o$y we now ha7e the ba%*% 6or the de7e opment o6 %uch a %c*ence o6 man. C*$n% o6 *t% com*n$ *nto e:*%tence are pre%ent *n the mo7ement% *n c *n*ca + beha7*or*%t*c and %oc*a /*n *t% narrower %en%e0 p%ycho o$y. ;t pre%ent we not on y ha7e no a%%ured mean% o6 6orm*n$ character e:cept crude de7*ce% o6 b ame+ pra*%e+ e:hortat*on and pun*%hment+ but the 7ery mean*n$ o6 the $enera not*on% o6 mora *n<u*ry *% matter o6 doubt and d*%pute. 9he rea%on *% that the%e not*on% are d*%cu%%ed *n *%o at*on 6rom the concrete 6act% o6 the *nteract*on% o6 human be*n$% w*th one anotherE an ab%tract*on a% 6ata a% wa% the o d d*%cu%%*on o6 ph o$*%ton+ $ra7*ty and 7*ta 6orce apart 6rom concrete corre at*on% o6 chan$*n$ e7ent% w*th one another. 9ake 6or e:amp e %uch a ba%*c concept*on a% that o6 D*$ht *n7o 7*n$ the nature o6 author*ty *n conduct. 9here *% no need here to rehear%e the mu t*tude o6 contend*n$ 7*ew% wh*ch $*7e e7*dence that d*%cu%%*on o6 th*% matter *% %t* *n the rea m o6 op*n*on. 5e content our%e 7e% w*th po*nt*n$ out that th*% not*on *% the a%t re%ort o6 the ant*2emp*r*ca %choo *n mora % and that *t pro7e% the e66ect o6 ne$ ect o6 %oc*a cond*t*on%. ((' " 8n e66ect *t% adherent% ar$ue a% 6o ow%: '.et u% concede that concrete *dea% about r*$ht and wron$ and part*cu ar not*on% o6 what *% ob *$atory ha7e $rown up w*th*n e:per*ence. ?$ut we cannot adm*t th*% about the *dea o6 D*$ht+ o6 Fb *$at*on *t%e 6. 5hy doe% mora author*ty e:*%t at a G 5hy *% the c a*m o6 the D*$ht reco$n*Bed *n con%c*ence e7en by tho%e who 7*o ate *t0 *n deedG Fur opponent% %ay that %uch and %uch a cour%e *% w*%e+ e:ped*ent+ better. "ut why act 6or the w*%e+ or $ood+ or betterG 5hy not 6o ow our own *mmed*ate de7*ce% *6 we are %o *nc *nedG 9here *% on y one an%wer: 5e ha7e a mora nature+ a con%c*ence+ ca *t what you w* . ;nd th*% nature re%pond% d*rect y *n acknow ed$ment o6 the %upreme author*ty o6 the D*$ht o7er a c a*m% o6 *nc *nat*on and 21

hab*t. 5e may not act *n accordance w*th th*% acknow ed$ment+ but we %t* know that the author*ty o6 the mora aw+ a thou$h not *t% power+ *% un<ue%t*onab e. Men may d*66er *nde6*n*te y accord*n$ to what the*r e:per*ence ha% been a% to ju%t what *% D*$ht+ what *t% content% are. "ut they a %pontaneou% y a$ree *n reco$n*B*n$ the %upremacy o6 the c a*m% o6 whate7er *% thou$ht o6 a% D*$ht. Ftherw*%e there wou d be no %uch th*n$ a% mora *ty+ but mere y ca cu at*on% o6 how to %at*%6y de%*re. Jrant the 6ore$o*n$ ar$ument+ and a the apparatu% o6 ab%tract mora *%m 6o ow% *n *t% wake. a remote $oa o6 per6ect*on+ *dea % that are contrary *n a who e+ %a e way to what *% actua + a 6ree w* o6 arb*trary cho*ce@ a o6 the%e concept*on% band them%e 7e% to@ether w*th that o6 a non2emp*r*ca author*ty o6 D*$ht (('#" and a non2emp*r*ca con%c*ence wh*ch acknow ed$e% *t. 9hey con%t*tute *t% ceremon*a or 6orma tra*n. 5hy+ *ndeed+ acknow ed$e the author*ty o6 D*$htG 9hat many per%on% do not acknow ed$e *t *n 6act+ *n act*on+ and that a per%on% *$nore *t at t*me%+ *% a%%umed by the ar$ument. Ju%t what *% the %*$n*6*cance o6 an a e$ed reco$n*t*on o6 a %upremacy wh*ch *% cont*nua y den*ed *n 6actG )ow much wou d be o%t *6 *t were dropped out+ and we were e6t 6ace to 6ace w*th actua 6act%G 86 a man *7ed a one *n the wor d there m*$ht be %ome %en%e *n the <ue%t*on ' 5hy be mora G ' were *t not 6or one th*n$: ,o %uch <ue%t*on wou d then ar*%e. ;% *t *%+ we *7e *n a wor d where other per%on% *7e too. Fur act% a66ect them. 9hey perce*7e the%e e66ect%+ and react upon u% *n con%e<uence. "ecau%e they are *7*n$ be*n$% they make demand% upon u% 6or certa*n th*n$% 6rom u%. 9hey appro7e and condemnE not *n ab%tract theory but *n what they do to u%. 9he an%wer to the <ue%t*on '5hy not put your hand *n the 6*reG ' *% the an%wer o6 6act. 86 you do your hand w* be burnt. 9he an%wer to the <ue%t*on why acknow ed$e the r*$ht *% o6 the %ame %ort. >or D*$ht *% on y an ab%tract name 6or the mu t*tude o6 concrete demand% *n act*on wh*ch other% *mpre%% upon u%+ and o6 wh*ch we $yre ob *$ed+ *6 we wou d *7e+ to take %ome account. 8t% author*ty *% the e:*$ency o6 the*r demand%+ the e66*cacy o6 the*r *n%*%tenc*e%. 9here may be $ood $round 6or the content*on that *n theory the *dea o6 the r*$ht *% %ubord*nate to that o6 the $ood+ be*n$ a %tatement o6 the cur%e proper to atta*n $ood. "ut *n 6act *t (('*" %*$n*6*e% the tota *ty o6 %oc*a pre%%ure% e:erc*%ed upon u% to *nduce u% to th*nk and de%*re *n certa*n way%. )ence the r*$ht can *n 6act become the road to the $ood on y a% the e ement% that compo%e th*% unrem*tt*n$ pre%%ure are en *$htened+ on y a% %oc*a re at*on%h*p% become them%e 7e% rea%onab e. 8t w* be retorted that a pre%%ure *% a non2mora a66a*r partak*n$ o6 6orce+ not o6 r*$ht@ that r*$ht mu%t be *dea . 9hu% we are *n7*ted to enter a$a*n the c*rc e *n wh*ch the *dea ha% no 6orce and %oc*a actua *t*e% no *dea <ua *ty. 5e re6u%e the *n7*tat*on becau%e %oc*a pre%%ure *% *n7o 7ed *n our own *7e%+ a% much %o a% the a*r we breathe and the $round we wa k upon. 86 we had de%*re%+ jud$ment%+ p an%+ *n %hort a m*nd+ apart 6rom %oc*a connect*on%+ then the atter wou d be e:terna and the*r act*on m*$ht be re$arded a% that o6 a nonmora 6orce. "ut we *7e menta y a% phy%*ca y on y *n and because o6 our en7*ronment. Coc*a pre%%ure *% but a name 6or the *nteract*on% wh*ch are a way% $o*n$ on and *n wh*ch we part*c*pate+ *7*n$ %o 6ar a% we partake and dy*n$ %o 6ar a% we do not. 9he pre%%ure is not *dea but emp*r*ca + yet emp*r*ca here mean% on y actua . 8t ca % attent*on to the 6act that con%*derat*on% o6 r*$ht are c a*m% or*$*nat*n$ not out%*de o6 *6e+ but w*th*n *t. 9hey are '*dea ' *n prec*%e y the de$ree *n wh*ch we *nte *$ent y reco$n*Be and act upon them+ ju%t a% co or% and can7a% become *dea when u%ed *n way% that $*7e an added mean*n$ to *6e. ;ccord*n$ y 6a* ure to reco$n*Be the author*ty o6 r*$ht mean% de6ect *n e66ect*7e apprehen%*on o6 the rea 2 (('+" 2*t*e% o6 human a%%oc*at*on+ not an arb*trary e:erc*%e o6 6ree w* . 9h*% de6*c*ency and per7er%*on *n apprehen%*on *nd*cate% a de6ect *n educat*onE that *% to %ay+ *n the operat*on o6 actua cond*t*on%+ *n the con%e<uence% upon de%*re and thou$ht o6 e:*%t*n$ *nteract*on% and *nterdependenc*e%. 8t *% 6a %e that e7ery per%on ha% a con%c*ou%ne%% o6 the %upreme author*ty o6 r*$ht and then m*%conce*7e% *t or *$nore% *t *n act*on. Fne ha% %uch a %en%e o6 the c a*m% o6 %oc*a re at*on%h*p% a% tho%e re at*on%h*p% en6orce *n one?% de%*re% and ob%er7at*on%. 9he be *e6 *n a %eparate+ *dea or tran%cendenta + pract*ca y *ne66ectua D*$ht *% a re6 e: o6 the *nade<uacy w*th wh*ch e:*%t*n$ *n%t*tut*on% per6orm the*r educat*7e o66*ce the*r o66*ce *n $enerat*n$ ob%er7at*on o6 %oc*a cont*nu*t*e%. 8t *% an endea7or to 'rat*ona *Be' th*% de6ect. .*ke a rat*ona *Bat*on%+ *t operate% 22

to d*7ert attent*on 6rom the rea %tate o6 a66a*r%. 9hu% *t he p% ma*nta*n the cond*t*on% wh*ch created *t+ %tand*n$ *n the way o6 e66ort to make our *n%t*tut*on% more humane and e<u*tab e. ; theoret*ca acknow ed$ment o6 the %upreme author*ty o6 D*$ht+ o6 mora aw+ $et% tw*%ted *nto an e66ectua %ub%t*tute 6or act% wh*ch wou d better the cu%tom% wh*ch now produce 7a$ue+ du + ha t*n$ and e7a%*7e ob%er7at*on o6 actua %oc*a t*e%. 5e arc not cau$ht *n a c*rc e@ we tra7er%e a %p*ra *n wh*ch %oc*a cu%tom% $enerate %ome con%c*ou%ne%% o6 *nterdependenc*e%+ and th*% con%c*ou%ne%% *% embod*ed *n act% wh*ch *n *mpro7*n$ the en7*ronment $enerate new percept*on% o6 %oc*a t*e%+ and %o on 6ore7er. 9he re at*on%h*p%+ the *nteract*on% are 6or2 (('!" 2e7er there a% 6act+ but they ac<u*re mean*n$ on y *n the de%*re%+ jud$ment% and purpo%e% they awaken. 5e recur to our 6undamenta propo%*t*on%. Mora % *% connected w*th actua *t*e% o6 e:*%tence+ not w*th *dea %+ end% and ob *$at*on% *ndependent o6 concrete actua *t*e%. 9he 6act% upon wh*ch *t depend% are tho%e wh*ch ar*%e out o6 act*7e connect*on% o6 human be*n$% w*th one another+ the con%e<uence% o6 the*r mutua y *ntertw*ned act*7*t*e% *n the *6e o6 de%*re+ be *e6+ jud$ment+ %at*%6act*on and d*%%at*%6act*on. 8n th*% %en%e conduct and )ence mora % are %oc*a : they are not ju%t th*n$% wh*ch ou$ht to be %oc*a and wh*ch 6a* . to come up to the %cratch. "ut there are enormou% d*66erence% o6 better and wor%e *n the <ua *ty o6 what *% %oc*a . 8dea mora % be$*n w*th the percept*on o6 the%e d*66erence%. )uman *nteract*on and t*e% are there+ are operat*7e *n any ca%e. "ut they can be re$u ated+ emp oyed *n an order y way 6or $ood on y a% we know how to ob%er7e them. ;nd they cannot be ob%er7ed ar*$ht+ they cannot be under%tood and ut* *Bed+ when the m*nd *% e6t to *t%e 6 to work w*thout the a*d o6 %c*ence. >or the natura una*ded m*nd mean% prec*%e y the hab*t% o6 be *e6+ thou$ht and de%*re wh*ch ha7e been acc*denta y $enerated and con6*rmed by %oc*a *n%t*tut*on% or cu%tom%. "ut w*th a the*r adm*:ture o6 acc*dent and rea%onab ene%% we ha7e at a%t reached a po*nt where %oc*a cond*t*on% create a m*nd capab e o6 %c*ent*6*c out ook and *n<u*ry. 9o 6o%ter and de7e op th*% %p*r*t *% the %oc*a ob *$at*on o6 the pre%ent becau%e *t *% *t% ur$ent need. ((($" -et the a%t word *% not w*th ob *$at*on nor w*th the 6uture. 8n6*n*te re at*on%h*p% o6 man w*th h*% 6e ow% and w*th nature a ready e:*%t.. 9he *dea mean%+ a% we ha7e %een+ a %en%e o6 the%e encompa%%*n$ cont*nu*t*e% w*th the*r *n6*n*te reach. 9h*% mean*n$ e7en now attache% to pre%ent act*7*t*e% becau%e they are %et *n a who e to wh*ch they be on$ and wh*ch be on$% to them. =7en *n the m*d%t o6 con6 *ct+ %tru$$ e and de6eat a con%c*ou%ne%% *% po%%*b e o6 the endur*n$ and comprehend*n$ who e. 9o be $ra%ped and he d th*% con%c*ou%ne%% need%+ *ke e7ery 6orm o6 con%c*ou%ne%%+ object%+ %ymbo %. 8n the pa%t men ha7e %ou$ht many %ymbo % wh*ch no on$er %er7e+ e%pec*a y .%*nce men ha7e been *do ator% wor%h*p*n$ %ymbo % a% th*n$%. -et w*th*n the%e %ymbo % wh*ch ha7e %o o6ten c a*med to be rea *t*e% and wh*ch ha7e *mpo%ed them%e 7e% a% do$ma% and *nto erance%+ there ha% rare y been ab%ent %ome trace o6 a 7*ta and endur*n$ rea *ty+ that o6 a commun*ty o6 *6e *n wh*ch cont*nu*t*e% o6 e:*%tence are con%ummated. (on%c*ou%ne%% o6 the who e ha% been connected w*th re7erence%+ a66ect*on%+ and oya t*e% wh*ch are communa . "ut %pec*a way% o6 e:pre%%*n$ the communa %en%e ha7e been e%tab *%hed. 9hey ha7e been *m*ted to a %e ect %oc*a $roup@ they ha e hardened *nto ob *$atory r*te% and been *mpo%ed a% cond*t*on% o6 %a 7at*on. De *$*on ha% o%t *t%e 6 *n cu t%+ do$ma% and myth%. (on%e<uent y the o66*ce o6 re *$*on a% %en%e o6 commun*ty and one?% p ace *n *t ha% been o%t. 8n e66ect re *$*on ha% been d*%torted *nto a po%%e%%*on E or burdenE o6 a *m*ted part o6 (((1" human nature+ o6 a *m*ted port*on o6 human*ty wh*ch 6*nd% no way to un*7er%a *Be re *$*on e:cept by *mpo%*n$ *t% own do$ma% and ceremon*e% upon other%@ o6 a *m*ted c a%% w*th*n a part*a $roup@ pr*e%t%+ %a*nt%+ a church. 9hu% other $od% ha7e been %et up be6ore the one Jod. De *$*on a% a %en%e o6 the who e *% the mo%t *nd*7*dua *Bed o6 a th*n$%+ the mo%t %pontaneou%+ unde6*nab e and 7ar*ed. >or *nd*7*dua *ty %*$n*6*e% un*<ue connect*on% *n the who e. -et *t ha% been per7erted *nto %ometh*n$ un*6orm and *mmutab e. 8t ha% been 6ormu ated *nto 6*:ed and de6*ned be *e6% e:pre%%ed *n re<u*red act% and ceremon*e%. 8n%tead o6 mark*n$ the 6reedom and peace o6 the *nd*7*dua a% a member o6 an *n6*n*te who e+ *t ha% been petr*6*ed *nto a % a7ery o6 thou$ht and %ent*ment+ an *nto erant %uper*or*ty on the part o6 the 6ew and an *nto erab e burden on the part o6 the many. 2#

-et e7ery act may carry w*th*n *t%e 6 a con%o *n$ and %upport*n$ con%c*ou%ne%% o6 the who e to wh*ch *t be on$% and wh*ch *n %ome %en%e be on$% to *t. 5*th re%pon%*b* *ty 6or the *nte *$ent determ*nat*on o6 part*cu ar act% may $o a joy6u emanc*pat*on 6rom the burden 6or re%pon%*b* *ty 6or the who e wh*ch %u%ta*n% them+ $*7*n$ them the*r 6*na outcome and <ua *ty. 9here *% a conce*t 6o%tered by per7er%*on o6. re *$*on wh*ch a%%*m* ate% the un*7er%e to our per%ona de%*re% @ but there *% a %o a conce*t o6 carry*n$ the oad o6 the un*7er%e 6rom wh*ch re *$*on *berate% u%. 5*th*n the 6 *cker*n$ *ncon%e<uent*a act% o6 %eparate %e 7e% dwe % a %en%e o6 the who e wh*ch c a*m% and d*$n*6*e% them ((('" 8n *t% pre%ence we put o66 morta *ty and *7e *n the un*7er%a . 9he *6e o6 the commun*ty *n wh*ch we *7e and ha7e our be*n$ *% the 6*t %ymbo o6 th*% re at*on%h*p. 9he act% *n wh*ch we e:pre%% our percept*on o6 the t*e% wh*ch b*nd u% to other% are *t% on y r*te% and ceremon*e%.

24