There is a temptation I believe in our culture to present one’s self as outraged in order to deflect possible accusations of indifference or ambivalence towards what is commonly considered an injustice (however true or false it may be). But this temptation has layers. The impulse to condemn can also be motivated by one’s desire to belong, in conjunction with one’s fear of being judged.
These dispositions, though brimming with vanity and virtue-signalling can also be latent. Meaning, they are quietly motivating one’s public behavior in a manner that is hidden from one’s own self.
The question really comes down to something ancient and pre-Christian. What is justice? Euthyphro is no new personality to this scene, but at the crux of our loud and outraged culture, a good question to start with is: what is the good?
If our answer is relativistic, what’s to say such answers aren’t also relative to our ego? If the answer is objective, all the same question can be asked.
Before we condemn what we consider unjust, we must ask ourselves honestly, do we even care about what is truly right and just? Or is this all a game we play?
Photo: Pexels, Public Domain
