English
The book written by Waller focuses on ethics and its relation to other subjects such as emotions and reasoning, the importance and advantages of observing ethics. The writer’s primary source of information on ethics is from different philosophers such as Susan Wolf and Catherine Wilson whose argument on morals is the main point of focus.
Wolf discusses that there are two types of saints: loving saints who care about others more than themselves and selfless and rational saints who retain some selfishness and some non-moral values. Other philosophers such as Aristole and Plato suggest that true happiness entails upholding very high moral standards but Wolf disagrees (Waller, 2010). She argues that moral saints may fail to live the kind of life a person is expected to live. She also points out that it is hard for moral people to achieve true happiness when they put the interests of other before theirs. Wolf is convinced that it would not be possible to promote total happiness in the current world by only pleasing ourselves. Wolf says that a world filled with moral saints will not be good. Wolf agrees that utilitarianism has a possibility of leaving some room for a moral saint to develop talents (Waller, 2010). She says that projects and talents will be considered of great importance by a utilitarian saint to replace happiness and as soon as others avail themselves, they are willing to do them so as to be happier. Wolf notes that for the moral saint, it is not just about the moral values but it is about non moral values being consumed by moral values. She encourages us to consider the value we give to morality in general. Wolf says that, ‘it is not always better to be morally better’.
Wilson argues that various works on contemporary moral philosophy brings up the question of whether the consumption and leisure habit of the middle class Westerners are morally justified. She argues that morality really does not explain nor give a convincing argument on how these activities should be perceived (Waller, 2010). If we assess each and every one of our actions as to whether they meets moral standards, the effects would be dehumanizing since it will hold us back from developing other aspects of our lives that are equally important. Wilson says, ‘it is not only the value, the one to which every good must be sacrificed’. Since there is lack of motivation from those strict moral theories, Wilson finds it rather obvious that philosophers should question the influence of moral philosophy by stressing the significance in each and everyone’s life (Waller, 2010).
Wolf presents a better argument because she gives a detailed explanation concerning morals. Wolf explains the two kinds of saints and gives an argument from any person’s point of view that is really difficult for moral people to live their lives the way it is expected. Unlike Wilson, Wolf says that being a moral saint is all about the non-moral values being consumed by the moral values, which means that everyone is a saint but of different kinds. Wilson leans more towards judging of people’s habits but Wolf leans more toward self-examination which is vital and the first step towards any change.
Works cited
Waller, N., B. Consider ethics: Theory, Readings and Contemporary issues. 3rd. Pearson, 2010.
