I find myself moving away from moral judgement and toward psychological analysis and treatment of the many people who are not dealing effectively with our current reality. To help those who are suffering from delusions, anger or depression we need a different approach than moral condemnation. This just does not work.
Even if psychology is wrong, at least it is trying to understand people and their behaviour in a methodical manner (science) and over the long run gets closer to some practical truth.
Moral condemnation, on the other hand, is an instinctive reaction that makes no attempt to understand and appreciate another person’s state of mind. Also, it just doesn’t work. It may make you feel good about your self for a moment.
Shaming someone who does not wear a mask in a public place could start a fight. Or maybe it gets them to wear a mask next time they see you. It does not change the underlying attitudes, values or beliefs that lead to the original behaviour. Actually, it is likely to completely backfire and stir defiance and revenge against your kind (whatever that is).
We need to be patient and take time to understand and appreciate different perspectives and life experiences. That’s hard because just about every normal human believes they are smarter, more attractive, more hard-working and more moral than average. You want to believe you are right. You have many friends who feel the same way.
But you also believe in goodness, justice, love, tolerance, etc.. We need to be mindful and exercise these in challenging times
I am starting to believe that politics derives from morality, and morality derives from some innate sense of right and wrong, but which can vary somewhat from one person to another, and is invariably shaped by culture and life experience.
Personal diversity is part of Nature’s plan, except for maybe narcissists, which appear to be mistakes, or at least deviants from Nature’s purpose. Our diversity is a way to cover all the bases because we each cannot meet all the necessary requirements for success.
Also, sometimes people under pressure act badly regardless of their moral beliefs and values.
Randal Adcock 