THE MORALITY CONTRACT

The 'morality contract' is an idea I had that made me think a lot about determining who I am as a person and how I plan to be that person. The true test of character isn't when things are easy and there isn't anything being put to the test. Like the cliche saying: The workout starts when you want to stop. Cheesy, yes. However, that statement encompasses a very universal point that in order to prove the legitimacy of anything, that thing must be put to the test in some way.

Knowledge? An exam. Physical fitness? A difficult workout. Discipline? Adhering to a commitment one made with oneself when the environment proves to bode for the opposite. Imagine you tell yourself you're going to workout but then when the time comes it's raining and you can't find your umbrella so you decide to not go to the gym because who wants to go to their car while it's raining? That would be an example of being easily swayed by external (in this case environmental) factors. And that's the concept here with the morality contract.

All individuals, at least should, want to be good people. But have you actually ever stopped to ask yourself if you are a good person? I can't help but imagine that show "What Would You Do" which observes and comments on how ordinary people behave when they are confronted with dilemmas that require them to either take action or walk by and mind their own business. It's a super interesting display of human behavior. In other words, they test people's moral character since in many of the situations there is a moral conflict.

It's much easier to adhere to things when we have a plan in place (back to the discussion on creating a schedule). This concept is akin to Premeditatio Malorum, the Stoic concept of negative visualization. Negative visualization allows one to put themselves in a compromising situation. You're then able to think through the scenario determining how is it is one would (and should) act to maintain their virtues and morals. It's an exercise that takes creativity and honesty. As the late great Mike Tyson said, "everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." Similarly, everybody has the intention of being good, moral, ethical—call it what you want—until they find themselves in a situation that morally punches them in the face.

This is something that religion does beautifully and has for thousands of years. It provides a well-package moral code to adopt and abide by. The only problem is it still comes down to the individual as to whether or not in moments of being tested they will stick to that moral commitment. Now, this starts to get into the morality debate: Can objective morality and human values exist in nature or do we need religion? If you aren't familiar, Sam Harris's book The Moral Landscape is a great place to start. I won't get into that here.

So, create a plan around the fact that your plan might not plan. That's what contracts are for. Contracts are referential documents defining roles, responsibilities, and commitments amongst the parties which in this case is yourself and those you have relationships with in the future. Contracts are executed while in the right state of mind so when people inevitably end up in a poor state of mind due to things not going to plan (Murphy's Law), they will be able to use this document as a road map as to what happens next. You owe it to yourself and others to make this morality contract to at least know when you're not acting within your moral parameters.

And after you've done this—stop thinking and talking about what it means to be a good person, just be one.

~ Bonde