Morally Good and Morally Right

Abstract

Let us understand at the outset that by we mean the state of possessing what is generally regarded as good character, rooted in virtue, in the broad sense of this term that embraces a variety of particular virtues such as courage, justice, temperance and the like. It is the meaning behind such popular expressions as 'he is a man of upright character', 'a solid citizen', or, simply, 'he is a good man'. Let us understand by 'morally right' the individually right or good actions a man performs, as in such expressions as 'he acted bravely', 'he made the right decision', or, simply, 'he did the right thing'. How closely are the two related? Presumably, being morally good and doing what is morally right cannot be identified, though one is ever tempted to wonder why not. Yet we know from the experience of others, if not of ourselves, that a morally good man is quite capable of not doing what is morally right, and often enough does not. On the other hand, there clearly seems to be some connection between being morally good and doing the morally right thing, even allowing for the fact that an admittedly bad man, in the moral sense, can do the right thing at times. This question of the relationship between morally good and morally right is, of course, an old one; indeed, it is one faced often enough by Plato and Aristotle in ancient times, not to mention many subsequent thinkers. Various themes have been pursued in investigating the matter resulting in quite different resolutions. The very persistence of the problem shows both the difficulty posed by the question as well as the central importance for human con duct the question has, and this is reason enough for raising the problem again. Moreover, there are at least two current points of view which provoke further consideration of the matter. The first point of view is found principally in the existentialist approach to the moral order. Although there is always some in herent risk in generalizing a point of view among a variety of writers, nevertheless it can be fairly said that an existentialist ap proach to the question of the relation of being morally good and