in a
context where I hold that moral knowledge grows in a manner analogous to other
sorts of knowledge, that is, cumulatively as a result of social assimilation of
individual insights, and social propagation.
That would suggest that if "honesty is the best policy" is truly a moral precept, it should be strengthening, not weakening, as we develop social insights and propogate society. But my experience and reading suggest that this isn't true. There was a time when the oath taken in court meant something; now it means, sadly, very little. There was a time, I believe, when the phrase "a man's word is his bond" had legitimate meaning, when handshake deals were considered binding, etc. Those are no longer even close to universal expectations.
Individual insights seem to be developing along the lines of self-interest above societial good. Moral knowedge is "growing" in a negative direction. So while "honesty is the best policy" may have been an accepted societal concept years ago, even though not everybody was honest, I don't think that in practice it is a moral concept of the present age. |
