What is your answer?

The most powerful and effective motive for doing the right thing is

    { 1 } - the desire to do what is right for its own sake.
    { 2 } - self-interest.
    { 3 } - the approval of others.
    { 4 } - the combination of all of these together.

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Directions: Click on a number from 1 to 4.
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























1 is correct!

The most powerful and effective motive for doing the right thing is

Consider person #1 who is honest because this is right -- and person #2 who is honest out of self-interest.

Kant says, "the former leaves far behind the second; it elevates the soul and inspires the wish to act in like manner. Even children feel this, and one should never present duties to them in any other light."

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Before continuing, you might try some wrong answers.
























 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

























2 is wrong. Please try again.

The most powerful and effective motive for doing the right thing is

    { 1 } - the desire to do what is right for its own sake.
    { 2 } - self-interest.
    { 3 } - the approval of others.
    { 4 } - the combination of all of these together.

Kant says that the lower motives are less powerful and effective.

Kohlberg's psychological studies seem to confirm this. People who think of morality in lower terms (like self-interest or the approval of others) tend to act against their conscience far more often than those who think of morality in higher terms.

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3 is wrong. Please try again.

The most powerful and effective motive for doing the right thing is

    { 1 } - the desire to do what is right for its own sake.
    { 2 } - self-interest.
    { 3 } - the approval of others.
    { 4 } - the combination of all of these together.

Kant says that the lower motives are less powerful and effective.

Kohlberg's psychological studies seem to confirm this. People who think of morality in lower terms (like self-interest or the approval of others) tend to act against their conscience far more often than those who think of morality in higher terms.

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4 is wrong. Please try again.

The most powerful and effective motive for doing the right thing is

    { 1 } - the desire to do what is right for its own sake.
    { 2 } - self-interest.
    { 3 } - the approval of others.
    { 4 } - the combination of all of these together.

Kant wrote: "Why does moral instruction accomplish so little? My answer is that the teachers have not got their notions clear. When they bring up motives of moral goodness from every quarter, trying to make their medicine strong, they spoil it."

In other words, keep moral instruction simple. Stress the right motivation. Don't confuse things by teaching lower motives.

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the end