Are moral qualities an intrinsic good?

By Michael Tucker <tuckerm@greenwood.net>

I believe moral qualities are not intrinsic goods. According to our text, an intrinsic good is worthwhile or being happy at the end. According to the class and my dictionary morality is conformity to ideas or rules of right human conduct.
If someone acts morally right does not automatically make that person happy at the end. For example, when I was in the US Navy, moral principles or rules would tell me I had to respect and follow orders from my division chief. I may have respected the idiot and followed his stupid orders but I never enjoyed it! I always “played the game” because it was the morally right thing to do, according to military rules and regulations. I was always considered an outstanding sailor. An outstanding sailor doesn’t mean a happy sailor. I may have gone along with the morals of the military society but I was not happy, so at the end of commitment I got out.
Anybody can act morally right or “play the game” and still not be happy. That’s why moral qualities are not intrinsic goods.

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Amy Young <bbfhyoung@yahoo.com>

According to Hospers, intrinsic good is defined as being, “worthwhile as an end.” According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary tenth edition, worthwhile is defined as, “being worth the time or effort spent (1365).” This does not seem to me to imply happiness. Was the time that you spent in the Navy worth the time and or effort that you spent? Maybe this is the way you should look at the question of intrinsic good.


Brian Bearden <bbearden@student.lander.edu>

I agree w/your argument. Having moral qualities doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to be worthwhile in the end. Even though moral qualities may not be a "intrinsic" good they are something that are good to have.


Matthew Knight <mknight_dsb@hotmail.com>

I agree that morals are not intrinsic goods. Doing the "right" thing is not always easy and does not always bring about happiness. We act this way because it is the morally correct way to act.


Jamie Meadows <riojeepgrl>

I am glad you wrote of a personal experience to identify with your topic. Morals are good to have, I agree, but aren't neccessarily an intrinsic good.


Michelle Komski <michellekomski@hotmail.com>

I completely agree with your position. It was nice to see a personal example. Thanks for sharing your experience.


Gina Baker <Daphine10@hotmail.com>

I thought that your paper was very good and I totally agree with your point. In our text book it gave an example of a brother acting in a moral way to help his younger brother but because he did this he was not happy, but it was the moral thing to do. Great paper.


Michael Tucker <tuckerm@greenwood.net>

Thank you for all of your great comments!


Anna C. Nance <eirendel@yahoo.com>

I agree with the arguement that morality is not an intrinsic good.


Leah Patterson <coco_c_007@hotmail.com>

I don't know if I agree with your paper. I think that you might be mistaking having moral qualities with acting morally. I think that having moral qualities is, in fact, an intrinsic good. Acting upon those moral qualities is what often brings unhappiness and confusion. You know what you have to do, but the doing is what is sometimes so hard.


jennifer lester <lesterjennifer@hotmail.com>

i agree with your response based upon your given definitions. very good response.


Rachel Crowe <rcrowe@usa.net>

You did a wonderful job explaining your position, but I'm sure that I agree. I think by acting morally you are "tending your soul" which in the end is worthwhile.


Chun Yeung <jane1227@yahoo.com>

I agree with you that a person acts morally right, but still not be happy.


Tom Lundis <Kman26@hotmail.com>

Good example, but I think of morality not as rules that regulate what we do, but more of what is RIGHT. Having something as a law is society does not make it right.


Tim Andrews <tandrews@emeraldis.com>

I agree--sometimes doing the right thing is not necessarily what makes an individual happy.


Demetri <dandrews92@hotmail.com>

Maybe "playing the game" will lead to eventual happiness. The consequences for not playing by the rules are usually less enjoyable than playing by the rules.


Nichole Sanders <snk79@hotmail.com>

I very much agree. I liked your paper.


Due Date <4/3/00>

Formal Comments Completed