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Chapter Two: Is Dishonesty Part of Human Nature?
Neville (shrugs): Yeah, a lot of people would think it’s wrong. But there are also plenty who’d do the same thing if they felt they could get away with it. They don’t see it as wrong. So, who’s right? I’m not sure.
Donna: So there are lots of people who would do it, but that doesn’t make it right. It’s stealing. God’s very clear that “Thou shalt not steal.” It’s not that hard to understand.
Neville: With all due respect to gracious and charming hosts, those are faith-based beliefs that many people in the modern world don’t accept. I think most people simply make a practical calculation regarding what best serves their interest and how much they can get away with.
Donald (n a low voice): “Get away with.” That phrase implies a moral code they know they are violating. As long as it benefits them and they’re not caught, they’ll continue.
Neville: Of course there’s a right and wrong. Many people believe in it and it’s taught in schools, churches and synagogues. “Thou shalt not steal.” Everyone knows that commandment. But just because many people hold such beliefs doesn’t make those beliefs true. It just makes them popular—hardly the same thing.
Donald (shocked by his guest’s casual dismissal of an important religious moral principle): Are you saying religious morality is simply a set of arbitrary beliefs?
Neville (nodding his head): Pretty much.
Donna (in simple, perplexed goodness): But didn’t your mom teach you that honesty is the best policy?
Neville (laughing good naturedly): She certainly tried.
There’s an impasse in the conversation. Donald and Donna are shocked—and torn between politeness and a strong commitment to assert moral principles. Neville is socially astute enough to realize the quiet furor he’s caused among his hosts, whom he genuinely likes and respects, but will not back down from expressing what he considers to be the actual moral code that animates many people.
Donna (quietly, afraid of the answer she’ll receive): Do you think that honesty is not the best policy?
Neville (touched by her simple commitment to moral principle and also her fear that he, as her friend, is unscrupulous; he answers gently): Donna, it’s pretty clear that many people reject that idea, isn’t it?
Donna nods.
Neville: Most people act on expediency, that’s all. They weigh the benefits and possible losses of a proposed action and then decide to do it—or not. They act on what they believe is in their immediate interest, not on what is preached by some church or political leader. (He pauses.) It’s not just criminals either. For example, people cheat on their spouses all the time, if they think they can get away with it. Kids lie to their parents, students cheat on exams, writers plagiarize from other authors, journalists falsify sources, politicians tell voters what they want to hear, voters cast their ballots for the candidate who promises to give them the greatest amount of the taxpayers’ money—I could go on, but you get the idea. It’s just the way people are, Donna. They’ll take whatever liberties they can get away with. It’s human nature.
Donald (shaking his head in frustrated disagreement): Yes, some people definitely behave that way. But that’s not the path to success or happiness. Those are miserable people you’re speaking of. Moral principles are necessary for a fulfilled and happy life.
Neville: I doubt that. Lots of those liars and cheats never get caught; they achieve their underhanded goals and seem perpetually delighted with themselves. How could anyone say they’re miserable?
Donna looked at him wanting to like him, to hold onto the tremendous admiration she felt just moments earlier – but his words and actions conflicted with her former mood and she now felt only a growing revulsion towards him.Back to Chapter One
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