I keep thinking back to something Eben brought up in class last week (Tuesday)- namely, the idea that if you see a problem, or something that you don’t think is OK, you should be doing something about it. I think Eben’s comments resonated with me because they struck a chord with a sort of guilty feeling I’ve often had. The guilt doesn’t come from actively doing anything wrong, but from not actively doing anything that seems particularly right. I’ve often felt uncomfortable with the idea that my life could be considered a moral life when I don’t really think I do anything to correct problems that I see around me. I think the issue boils down to a question of inaction as a morally culpable offense. I do think there is a moral imperative to act when we see something that we think is wrong. I think this idea leads to guilt because I don’t think that I do enough to act, and it’s something that I hope to change if I can figure out how. It made me start thinking about ideas that I’ve struggled with before- for instance, what difference is there between letting someone die before your eyes and not giving them (for example’s sake) the five dollars in your pocket that could save them by buying them food, and not sending food or support somewhere when you can spare it and where it could have a similar lifesaving impact? When does not doing something become as wrong as doing something positively wrong? It’s hard for me to figure out the difference- maybe this is because there isn’t a meaningful one.

I’m wondering what other people think about this. If a person sees something wrong in the world and doesn’t do anything about it, is he or she more culpable than someone who simply doesn’t see the wrong, by choice or by chance? It sort of reminds me also of the philosophical question- is a person brave who isn’t scared in the face of danger, or is a person truly brave who is scared and proceeds anyway? I can’t really articulate how these are connected, but I think it has something to do with making active choices and being aware of situations and choosing to overcome them (as opposed to not facing those choices whatsoever).

I know that I’ve made decisions recently because I’ve felt a certain moral imperative- for instance, I wanted to go on a spring break pro bono caravan because I wanted to do some beneficial work that could help people who actually needed it (and I thought it would be interesting, fun, and a great way to meet new people). But in the February doldrums, the idea of taking a week off to relax, catch up on work, and have some fun here in New York started to appeal to me. I felt guilty that there was a chance for me to do something good and that I might not take that chance- it was as if by not going on the trip I would be actually doing something wrong. I decided to go- not only because of this moral dilemma I had created for myself, but for my original reasons of wanting to go- but I have to say, there was a little bit of guilt! So I guess the topic I’d like to raise is to what extent not acting can be a culpable thing- are we all guilty for not doing more in the face of problems we see in the world around us? I certainly feel that way sometimes. And I don’t want to say that there aren’t many in this class who are doing things- I just wonder about people like me, who have ideas and thoughts about things that we see are problematic, but don’t necessarily do much towards accomplishing anything. It sometimes makes me feel guilty. I think this is the root of my own FearAndAnxiety – that I will be morally deplorable, not because I do something bad, but because I don’t do something good

-- JessicaHallett - 08 Mar 2010