On Morality and Choices

I have read a blog of an esteemed friend regarding the morality of our choices. In gist, he talks about our choice being somewhat fraudulent and the morality questionable if it does not emananate from our ultimate passions. That the choice of doing good is not in itself moral if there lies within you the desire to do otherwise.

Reading the blog, I have hastily commented amen for to my mind then there is one choice--where one person is concern--that I have been able to chose not to do something I don't really like doing just because I don't like it, no matter how that person tries to twist everything in his mind. No one can really attribute motivations to one person especially if the thought of motive is not supported by observable behavior. The decision was not made out of mere moral convention, it was decided against because I am not for it--period.

So in here, now I will try to compose my thoughts and dig deeper into what I really think about some of his propositions.

In the blog, he claims "The morality of a choice primarily lies not in that which is chosen.--Why what does it entail to live a moral life? Isn't it right for me to choose not to kill someone out of revenge even if my desire to do so oftentimes overwhelm me just because I am afraid of committing what we conventionally call a mortal sin of murder?. For one may choose something he/she perceives as good, but if he/she chooses on the basis of conventions and not out of his/her ultimate passions, of his/her own subjective certainty; if he/she surrenders his/her autonomy in this entire act of choosing, then there is no authentic choice." --Meaning, if I choose to do good, quelling my humanly desire to do otherwise, then I am living a life of self-deception and moral hypocrisy? Isn't it the moral aim of our being to rise above our baser needs and instincts?

"Authentic morality therefore lies in the very act of choosing, something that emanates from one's subjective certainty and ultimate passion, and not in the things chosen, and certainly not in any law that determines the goodness or ungoodness of an act."

Well, I beg to disagree. Morality first and foremost is measured in what is chosen and not on the circumstances of the choice. If I choose not to steal food despite hunger, do I make myself morally hypocrite? Am I not being "authentically moral" just because I am denying myself with what I most desire just because I am afraid of getting caught stealing?

If we will talk about the authenticity of a choice alone, then yes. Somehow, to some extent you are denying yourself of something that you so wanted. But the authenticity of your choice does not necessarily translate morality. Morality always is choosing good over bad or evil regardless of motivations. We will be measured not so much on intentions but on our deeds--the ultimate expression of our choice.

Fact is:
> No one will convict you just for the mere fact that for a moment you think of stealing food but do not actually do so.

>We as beings are given the faculty of mind to think and consider things on top of our more instinctual drives. Unlike the lower forms of animals that is driven only by instincts of survival, procreation, and pleasure, we have a mind that can process and consider all our choices.

>We as beings are given the power of will to choose between what we want and what is morally acceptable. A cornered animal will have no other behavioral action except to fight back regardless of the possibility of hurting fellow animals. Beings like us have the freedom to choose self-sacrifice in order to save others.

>Authentic is only an adverb use to qualify Morality but does not change the basic requisites of the definition of the word.

Authentic morality therefore, is choosing to do good despite being tempted to be bad. It is saying no to yourself when you know that what you want may not really make you a better person. It doesn't matter if the choice is made out of fear of what other people may think. It doesn't matter if the choice is made because you are afraid to get caught. What really matters is... YOU DO NOT DO IT.

"We are not our feelings. We are not our moods. We are not even our thoughts." (-quoted from Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey)

WE ARE WHAT WE CHOOSE TO BE.