What drives a moral society? What drives us not to be Dorien Grey's in our own lives? In his work "The theory of moral sentiments" Adam Smith talks about praise, and praiseworthiness as forces which make us more morally applicable and in check, to such unacceptable behaviors.
Definitions - main argument - Application.
Praise - Praise is the acceptance of those who are around us, family friends and society in words, and by other means.
Praiseworthiness - This is a mental entity, which is created by our own mind judging our own actions, and weighing its potential to become a praise, in the future. Even though it may never become an actual praise.
It is essential that we ourselves are observers of our own actions, like looking at a mirror (picture of Dorien) to judge our actions praiseworthy or not.
Main Argument.
There is no argument that we crave praise by those around us, and it is a driving force for moral behavior for us. However, praiseworthiness is the potential for our action by our own judgment which still drive us in same morally acceptable actions even if we are not praised by others. It is a value we generate of our own. As an example, if we are praised for an action which we did not do ourselves, still we would not feel comfortable as we ourselves know we are not praiseworthy.
Application
Children, and adults can be motivated by praise.
Praiseworthiness is a value given by us in our own minds. Hence, a mathematician, will still be highly motivated on his own line of work, even nobody knows about his work. Actually, speaking it really doesn't matter you are praised, as long as you know the value of your own work.
Praiseworthiness is more important than praise, as a driver of morally acceptable behavior, as praise itself can be actually led to morally unacceptable behavior in the absence of praiseworthiness.
Opposite Argument.
Punishment and Fear of Punishment
Shame and Fear of Shame
Similarly, if you extend the principles of the above argument, opposite of the praise can be considered as punishment and shame. More than punishment and shame, it is the fear of punishment and fear of shame which keep us in check to moral behavior. Even at a loss of other temporary gains. Hence, it is more important to create internal change of fear of punishment, fear of shame and praiseworthiness, if we are aiming for a morally acceptable society.
Thank you for reading Praise and Praiseworthiness, drivers of a moral society- Adam Smith
You may also like to read - Picture of Dorien Grey.
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