Detailed Reading THE NEW IMMORALITY Joseph Wood Krutch 1.The provost of one of our largest and most honored institutions told me not long ago that a questionnaire was distributed to his undergraduates and that 40 percent refused to acknowledge that they believed cheating on examinations to be reprehensible. Translation
THE NEW IMMORALITY Joseph Wood Krutch 1. The provost of one of our largest and most honored institutions told me not long ago that a questionnaire was distributed to his undergraduates and that 40 percent refused to acknowledge that they believed cheating on examinations to be reprehensible. Detailed Reading
Detailed Reading 2.Recently a reporter for a New York newspaper stopped six people on the street and asked them if they would consent to take part in a rigged television quiz for money.He reported that five of the six said yes.Yet most of these five,like most of the college cheaters,would probably profess a strong social consciousness.They may cheat,but they vote for foreign aid and for enlightened social measures. Question Translation
2. Recently a reporter for a New York newspaper stopped six people on the street and asked them if they would consent to take part in a rigged television quiz for money. He reported that five of the six said yes. Yet most of these five, like most of the college cheaters, would probably profess a strong social consciousness. They may cheat, but they vote for foreign aid and for enlightened social measures. Detailed Reading
Detailed Reading 3.These two examples exhibit a paradox of our age.It is often said,and my observation leads me to believe it true, that our seemingly great growth in social morality has oddly enough taken place in a world where private morality-a sense of the supreme importance of purely personal honor,honesty,and integrity -seems to be declining.Beneficent and benevolent social institutions are administered by men who all too frequently turn out to be accepting "gifts."The world of popular entertainment is rocked by scandal.College students,put on their honor, cheat on examination.Candidates for the Ph.D.hire ghost writers to prepare their theses. Question Translation
3. These two examples exhibit a paradox of our age. It is often said, and my observation leads me to believe it true, that our seemingly great growth in social morality has oddly enough taken place in a world where private morality — a sense of the supreme importance of purely personal honor, honesty, and integrity — seems to be declining. Beneficent and benevolent social institutions are administered by men who all too frequently turn out to be accepting "gifts." The world of popular entertainment is rocked by scandal. College students, put on their honor, cheat on examination. Candidates for the Ph. D. hire ghost writers to prepare their theses. Detailed Reading
Detailed Reading 4.But,one may object,haven't all these things always been true?Is there really any evidence that personal dishonesty is more prevalent than it always was? 5.I have no way of making a historical measurement. Perhaps these things are not actually more prevalent. What I do know is that there is an interesting tendency to accept and take for granted such personal dishonesty. The bureaucrat and disk jockey say,"Well,yes,I took presents,but I assure you that I made just decisions anyway."The college student caught cheating does not even blush.He shrugs his shoulders and comments: "Everybody does it,and besides,I can't see that it really hurts anybody. Translation
4. But, one may object, haven't all these things always been true? Is there really any evidence that personal dishonesty is more prevalent than it always was? 5. I have no way of making a historical measurement. Perhaps these things are not actually more prevalent. What I do know is that there is an interesting tendency to accept and take for granted such personal dishonesty. The bureaucrat and disk jockey say, "Well, yes, I took presents, but I assure you that I made just decisions anyway." The college student caught cheating does not even blush. He shrugs his shoulders and comments: "Everybody does it, and besides, I can't see that it really hurts anybody." Detailed Reading
Detailed Reading 6.Jonathan Swift once said:"I have never been surprised to find men wicked,but I have often been surprised to find them not ashamed."It is my conviction that though men may be no more wicked than they always have been,they seem less likely to be ashamed.If everybody does it,it must be right.Honest,moral,decent mean only what is usual.This is not really a wicked world, because morality means mores or manners and usual conduct is the only standard. Translation
6. Jonathan Swift once said: "I have never been surprised to find men wicked, but I have often been surprised to find them not ashamed." It is my conviction that though men may be no more wicked than they always have been, they seem less likely to be ashamed. If everybody does it, it must be right. Honest, moral, decent mean only what is usual. This is not really a wicked world, because morality means mores or manners and usual conduct is the only standard. Detailed Reading