At this juncture, we should turn our examination around and ask a different question: Is it possible for someone to attain ego-integrity (Moore's optimal self system) and turn out to be a moral midgets or worse? Yes indeed, it is possible. We do not attain moral stature without careful reflection and decision making. By attaining ego-integrity (Moore's optimal self system), we will be freed from our inner compulsions and addictive behavior patterns. We will be freed from psychological forms of suffering associated with archetypal wounding. However, unless we have been working to cultivate lives of moral virtue through our self-conscious choices and acts, we will not attain moral maturity. We will remain morally unsophisticated and immature in our decision making and acts.
So people make the effort to attain archetypal healing of archetypal wounding in order to develop an optimal self system and thereby free themselves of psychological pain and suffering related to archetypal wounding.
But why do people work to become morally upright persons in their personal and professional lives? What's in it for them to do this? The saying has it that virtue is its own reward. If you work to be virtuous in your choices and acts, you should not hold out your hand to God and expect God to give you a reward for each virtuous act. Each virtuous act is its own reward. Through each virtuous act, you enhance your own self-respect and show your self-love. By definition, non-virtuous acts are acts that no self-respecting person would do.
Ah, but what we consider to be acceptable and unacceptable moral behavior is subject to examination and change. As a result of such changes, our sense of moral virtue changes. But as we know from contemporary moral debates about legalized abortion in the first trimester and about possibly legalizing gay marriage, such moral changes usually do not occur quickly or without heated debate.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
