Norms are purely internal. Many people today reject any moral norms or standards which would be based on the existence of values outside of us, and they argue that the only valid rules are purely internal: be true to yourself, do what you feel is right, follow your conscience. But at best these so-called internal norms beg the question: To which self-am I to be true? Not only do we change, but we are divided, vacillating in respect to a most important de- cision; within each of us there are competing selves clamoring for attention, and it is pos- sible that the self which I am at the moment is not the self which I ought to be. It is also possible that "what I feel is right" might not be right at all. It is even possible that my con- science, in a given case, might be the product of self-deception, or might be a false facad for selfishness. These internal norms, such as conscience, make sense only if they are base on something outside of us as individuals, which can rightfully lay total claim to us. 1. Evaluation:
Share
This passage discusses the idea of moral norms and standards and the role they play in guiding human behavior. The author argues against the notion that moral rules should be based solely on internal values, such as being true to oneself or following one's conscience. The author suggests that these internal norms are problematic because they are subjective and can be influenced by factors such as self-deception or selfishness. Instead, the author proposes that moral norms should be based on something outside of individuals, which has the authority to lay claim to us. This argument highlights the importance of considering the source of our moral beliefs and the need for an external standard to guide our behavior. Overall, the passage provides a thoughtful critique of the idea that internal values alone are sufficient to guide our actions.