252 Epiloguethe situation. We should arrive at an intelligent decision, but
with a full awareness of all the emotional, social, personal and
subjective forces which are a part of that decision.More important, however, than the fact that one comes to a
reasonable decision, is that this process should help each person
come to terms with his own ideas, beliefs, and priorities. Cer
tainly the conclusion that one arrives at is important, but the
realization that the conclusion is the accurate reflection of the
individual’s most complete analysis of the situation is very
significant. If we follow Aristotle’s advice and create the habit
of engaging in this thought process, hopefully, we will never (or
almost never) find ourselves in a situation where our moral
principles change simply because of a single experience which
has caused us personal pain.
Or, if we apply this thought process to any problem, we will
discover the contradictions that cause our thinking to be con
fused, or that bring us to foolish conclusions, or that lead us to
solutions which are worse than the problem they were meant to
solve. A classroom exchange may illustrate this point.
A student, very much into the back-to-nature, simpler life,
organic food, and anti-technology philosophy, made a long,
impassioned argument for the elimination of all motor vehicles
in New York City. The pollution, traffic, psychological strain on
motorists, dehumanizing effect of machines on men, and more,
were dramatically and accurately detailed to the class. When he
was finished the teacher said, “There are eight million people in
New York City, and all those people require all kinds of goods
and services which are provided in large measure by motor
vehicles. How do you suggest that, if your plan is implemented,
those eight million people will get those goods and services that
motor vehicles supply?” The student thought for a moment or
two and then replied triumphantly, “Horses!” To which the
teacher replied, “ Young man, the number of horses it would take
to supply eight million New Yorkers with all the goods and
services they require, would, within a week, insure that eight
million people would be up to their knees in the product of your
solution.”
Hopefully, the product that results from the implementation
of the process described here will free us from the results of