What’s worse - Doing the right thing for the wrong reason or doing the wrong thing for the right reason? (1 Viewer)

[JuniorGong]

I just got down reading a book where the protagonist in the story was asking himself this question. In the story, a man was arrested for killing his female roommate after being caught with her blood all over him. The guy kills himself in jail and police consider the case closed. The PI discovers it is actually the man’s father (who is a Priest) that killed the girl. The PI confronts the Priest and provides him a bunch of sleeping pills. He tells him to kill himself in the next day or he is going to the police.

A pretty extreme example of doing the wrong thing for the right reason so not expecting everyone to think in the extreme on this question although I do think extreme examples can help in deciding how you feel about it.

 

[rockaction]

Wrong thing and right thing are inextricable from the right and wrong reason if you're a Catholic or Kantian. It's the autonomy of ends.  

 

[rockaction]

In other words, your intention and your moral compass should add up to justice, and in this case, not vigilantism. A priest should encourage the man to turn himself in, hear his confession, and persuade the man to do the right thing.  

 

[JuniorGong]

Wrong thing and right thing are inextricable from the right and wrong reason if you're a Catholic or Kantian. It's the autonomy of ends.  

I renounced my Catholicism once it came out the Priests were molesting alter boys. Strangely, I also was a bit upset that Father Barrett never made a move on me during my 4 years as an alter boy.

 

[Bossman]

I renounced my Catholicism once it came out the Priests were molesting alter boys. Strangely, I also was a bit upset that Father Barrett never made a move on me during my 4 years as an alter boy.

hmmm...  maybe you were too feminine for his taste?

... and while we're on the subject; how can the bible be the word of god ... if King James translated and rewrote it?

 

[Ilov80s]

It depends. 

 

[Long Ball Larry]

worse for whom?