Writing for James Fallows’ blog on the Atlantic Monthly website, Kentaro Toyama presents an opening gambit on the discussion of virtue in American culture. What I got out of this piece is that there is a cultural revulsion to discussing virtue here in America. Toyama points to cynicism as the driver behind our reluctance to speak of virtue.
In Toyama’s construct, this cynicism has three manifestations. First, there’s “Biological Cynicism,” or the notion that human nature leaves us no choice but to act the way we do. It’s an evolutionary imperative to fight for what’s ours. Economics presents us with a model of humans as rational, self-interested actors. Second, there’s “Secular Cynicism,” in which many Americans hold a strong distaste for universal morality emerging from a religious background. Despite many attempts, we have always rejected one religious moral construct over another here, and in doing so, have reduced our inclination to speak of morality even on secular terms. Third, there’s “Intellectual Cynicism,” summarized nicely by the author here: “Intellectual cynicism is hard to pinpoint, but I think it's related to the high-school desire to be cool rather than good. The essence of cool is rebellion and subversion, and it's difficult to be either through goodness. No one wants to be a Goody Two-Shoes.”
Reading this article, I’m reminded of my experiences in Japan and India, where the larger social order has no compunctions towards telling you that you’re a bad person if you color outside the lines. A favorite example of mine is the message on the package of moist towelettes that come with every Japanese meal. It says something like, “We Should Wash Our Hands.” Few would quibble with the premise behind this message. It’s a good idea to wash your hands before you eat. But apply Toyama’s concepts of cynicism to this example. Biological Cynicism: I know I should wash my hands, but only because I don’t want to get sick, not because it’s somehow a good idea. Secular Cynicism: Who is this “we” they’re referring to? Are you telling me that cleanliness is next to godliness? Intellectual Cynicism: Well, that’s a patronizing father-knows-best way of putting it. I’ll be dirty just to spite that smug packaging.
I've had all of those reactions.
It’s not to suggest that we wash our hands on a less frequent basis than the Japanese (I have no evidence for or against). Rather, it’s our inability to speak of anything else other than self-interest as a motivator for being clean. At best, a bathroom in an American restaurant might have a state-mandated placard that reads, “Employees must wash hands before returning to work.” There is no given reason why, no sense that it’s the right thing to do. You just do it.
What virtues remain here? Hard work? Self-reliance? Charity (but only when we feel like it)? To be virtuous in America is to be false, hollow, or sanctimonious. Can one be socially engaged on religious terms? Can we care about the environment without rubbing everyone else the wrong way? Can we employ tactics other than the threat of punishment to impact public behavior? To be sure, shame is far down the list of normative features of American society. We much prefer fines and jail time over social stigma. We resist judgment, preferring the cold punishments of law over social rejection. When caught speeding, it’s much easier for us to brush it off by saying, “the law’s the law” than it is to say, “the officer was right, I was putting other drivers at risk.”
Is it possible for there to be an American morality without the foolhardy zealotry of the Prohibition era, or being “tough on crime” even if it destroys the fabric of our communities? Can we shame people into doing the right thing without it becoming a righteous witch hunt? Can our actions be informed by anything other than raw pragmatism? Can there be other public virtues besides being a hard worker? Can we take care of the poor and sick because it’s the right thing to do and not just for economic reasons?
America needs a new moral discussion. Technocratic calculation or enlightened self-interest won’t cut it. Not in the long run.
No comments:
Post a Comment