Morality vs. Charity

This is a good time to make a distinction between moral responsibility and charity.  Moral responsibility is what one does because "it is the right thing to do"; the deed itself possesses value that benefits primarily the person is the recipient of the act.  Moral agents have the ability to form ideas about what they will do, figure out why and who or what the action benefits, carry out that action simply because it is the right thing to do.   Significantly, even if the act is done, if the proper intent isn't there, the deed has no moral value.  It is done for the wrong reasons.  Some liken this to a form of altruism, but done with a deeper desire to specifically give as much as they can, especially, in some cases until it hurts.  Some argue that moral agents are a newer evolutionary process of the species, a kind of special person that didn't exist centuries ago, especially if, and when, there was the existence of what Hobbes' referred to as the State of Nature.

Now, lets look at charity. Most definitions of charity center around giving donations, actions, work, etc., primarily to help those in need, usually more than us.  OK, that's great.  But if I give $25 to the Red Cross, that doesn't mean that you will, or anyone else we know will for that matter.  Also, just because I give $25, that also doesn't mean that someone is obligated to give the same, or less, because $25 is already in the kitty.  Charity is not done out a sense of moral responsibility.  It is done as a 'feel good' act, to correct a deficiency in the way we feel, usually guilt.  It gives us a benevolent feeling. We feel awesome when we donate to some charity and tell our friends. And, in many cases, it's done for the wrong reasons.

So, there's a ton of food at the shelter I went to.  Old food from a wedding that took place on a hot day, pizza from some office party (complete with a few half-eaten crusts), and fruit and vegetables that are no longer salable at the local grocery store.  All the bread is outdated and stale.  The bananas were black.  The ice cream was half melted; the lettuce was wilted.  But, as someone said, there sure is a lot of food here.  We sure eat good!

Next time you donate food to a shelter, please do it out of a moral responsibility, not charity.  We don't need your leftovers that were probably going to get tossed into the dumpster.  It is demoralizing, as well as unhealthy.  Even the homeless have dignity.  Thanks for listening.