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The Case for Moral Insight "There are no shortcuts to moral insight. Nature is not intrinsically anything that can offer comfort or solace in human terms -- if only because our species is such an insignificant latecomer in a world not constructed for us. So much the better the answers to moral dilemmas are not lying out there, waiting to be discovered they reside, like the kingdom of God, within us -- the most difficult and inaccessible spot for discovery or consensus." The above text touches on several points, each of which merit considerable discussion. However, it is difficult to precisely comment on what the author is saying, because this paragraph appears to be a concluding remark after already presenting his ideas regarding morality, man's place in the world, and the challenge that each of us face regarding truth and how we deal with it individually. What is "moral insight"? How do we define this term? One of the first problems with defining this term has to do with the question of authority. By what standard do we establish our moral "high ground"? Obviously, we cannot rely on the ever-changing opinions of men, or even those of a select group. It is possible to allow a group to represent, interpret, and defend a standard of moral law as we do in United States with the Supreme Court? However, I don't want to get bogged down with some kind of legal definition -- and much less do I want to bring the Supreme Court into this discussion, because as of late I feel they are neither "supreme", nor do they represent the highest standards of moral insight. As a layman, I would like to generically define the term, moral insight as "a keen understanding of the real differences between right and wrong". I would also add that such an understanding is based on principles primarily found in the last six of the 10 Commandments, which have to do with man's relationship with his fellow man. Some people object to the use of a religious text, however I would counter by asking: "Is there anything better, claiming Divine authority -- or did God write something different to someone else?" The word 'insight' implies knowledge gained through experience. A child, for example, has little interest in moral questions. His little world is simple and does not require experience. A teenager has more concepts about moral issues, but in his world, the important thing is to see what he can get away with.
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