Why Should i Be Moral

WHY SHOULD I BE MORAL? A Philosophical Reflection John Michael R. Saavedra Human beings keep on searching for answers, truth, meaning and human's essence. They believe in different absolutes, different ends, and life after death. Humanity looks for what is true, good, one and beautiful. Why are we searching for the one? true? good? beautiful? To apply on one’s life? Then, why should we be true? good? beautiful? one? Specifically, why should we be good? Or moral? Primarily, the idea of being good or moral lies on the idea of a being existing. It means that we should assert first that we exist. How? To determine one’s existence, we must have first the idea of non-existence and co-existence. In this case, I affirm G. Marcel’s esse est co esse or to exist is to co-exist for the reason that to exist is mainly a recognition that you exist with somebody. Relatively, it means that we cannot separate ourselves from the relationship with other people. Consequently, existing or being-in-the-world, as asserted by M.Heidegger, is the idea that how we look at the world is different from what it really is. It means that man as “being-in-the-world” is free and to be free is to consider that each individual is the author of himself through the choices he makes. “Being alive is the meaning”, as J.Campbell argues. And because we are all different beings, we have different beingNESS and therefore in that sense, we also have different ideas and concepts of being moral. In this case, the argument does not define morality to be subjective. Because of the belief that man is intrinsically good, I believe that morality is a built-in condition of humanity but because of our freedom people tend to practice and conceptualize either all or just part of the morality within. The aforementioned arguments speak of freedom and I believe that in great freedom comes great responsibility as also asserted by some philosophies. And when we speak of responsibility, we speak of our responsibility not just with what would be its effects on us but also what would be its effects on others (esse est co-esse). In this case then, man is responsible of his own life and its consequences not just for himself but also to all people , people who in them are intrinsically good. In the light of the aforementioned, man should understand his freedom and responsibility, and that responsibility to other people, who are also free and responsible. In relation to the aforesaid, it is argued by Karlfried that the real end is the journey. Specifically, “When you’re on a journey and the end keeps getting further and further away, then you realize that the real end is the journey.” And in the

journey comes changes and different thoughts and ideas as well as different truths, different definitions, and different definitions of morality and reasons why should we be moral. Then why should we be true? good? one? beautiful? Why should we be moral? Wait, we are in a journey. And the journey always continues, new definitions, new reasons, new truths arises. What’s significant is you do it out of your will, out of your freedom and you are responsible of it even if it costs you a lot. And being moral is a communal stuff, its making this world a better place, it is being an author of your own and being part of a whole. Answers of today in the question might not be relevant later or in the next days. Answering it is intricate, multifaceted. Why should I be moral? Wait, I am in a journey. [mikesaavedra,cssr]