In the chapter, Happiness and Immorality, Cahn and Murphy bring forth arguments that explain the happy immoralist and the unhappy immoralist respectively. In particular, Cahn presents a fictitious persona whose primary objectives include gaining fame, reputation, and wealth. However, the person employs dishonest tactics which are immoral in his pursuit for prosperity and he later succeeds. Therefore, Cahn considers him a happy immoralist. On the other hand, Murphy explains the concept of the unhappy immoralist using the example of a tyrant. It is important to note that Murphy applies Plato’s thinking and concludes that the tyrant can be happy before the ignorant world but in actual sense he is not. The evidence presented by Cahn by giving examples of Kate and Woody shows that the immoralist can be happy.
Cahn explains that people who attribute their success to unscrupulous ways can still have a happy life. Besides, they are in a position to delight in luxuries and those unaware of their dishonest behavior will praise them for their high moral standards. On the other hand, Philippa Foot views happiness to be different from euphoria as it needs to stem from sources associated with human nature (83). For this reason, the person who lacks morality cannot be happy as per the standards set by Foot. Whereas the society does not wish to reward such hypocrites, Cahn approaches the scenario from a different point. Therefore, he considers that there is the possibility that the individual is happy but the society is not. Moreover, the individual could be happy now but the feeling will not last forever and Cahn explains that it could be the reason why God came up with hell.
Murphy holds a different opinion to that of Cahn. In particular, he claims that Cahn wants people to assume the outset unlike the arguments brought forth by Socrates. For this reason, Murphy considers that the entire question of happiness and morality needs to be examined. Besides, he views the approach by Cahn as a linguistic claim that is verbally useless. It is important to note that human happiness should take the form of a personality that integrates all elements of an individual who has achieved. On the other hand, the immoralist, as explained by Cahn lacks true friendship, integrity, and moral emotions (85). Murphy does not rule out all the happiness of the immoralist but claims that he is limited in some way.
Murphy notes that people nowadays misinterpret the term “happiness” and confuse it with “flourishing”. He uses Kierkegaard’s Purity of heart Is to Will One Thing to describe the conflict that the double-minded immoralist faces. In particular, Murphy considers the immoralist as self-deceived if he purports to be happy. Moreover, the desires of the immoralist can be categorized as temporal. For this reason, it will take a given duration before the immoralist starts experiencing boredom as he has attained some level of temporal satisfaction. Subsequently, the immoralist will have the urge to generate new desires and this will occur in a similar manner as the “rotation of crops” (86).
The immoralist cannot find happiness as the source of his or her joy relies on temporal values. For example, the happiness is dependent on how other perceive the immoralist. It is important to note that Cahn acknowledges that the happiness of the immoralist may be short-lived. Therefore, Murphy reveals that happiness is an attribute and is not reliant on the moment. Besides, the Greek claimed that the only happy person is a dead person (86). On the other hand, Murphy attributes the misunderstandings arising from the meaning of happiness to the revision of concepts. The claim by Cahn that an immoral person can be happy pans out to be one of the oppositions to the Socrates ideas according to Murphy. In the process, the moral understanding of people continues to deepen which results in linguistic revisions. Hence, Murphy pities the immoralist who views himself as truly happy but still sees no need as the person is happy.
Cahn advances an argument that seeks to explain why Murphy and others disagree there is the possibility of an immoral person living happily. In particular, he considers the immoralist being happy acts as a threat to doing the right thing and thereby widening the gap between happiness and immorality. Hence, people will face a conflict when it comes to choosing a moral path in the future. Cahn uses Woody, a character from the movie Crimes and misdemeanors, to explain the likelihood of a conflict when addressing morality and happiness issues.
Cahn notes that Woody murders a lady he had an affair with outside marriage after she threatened to expose the relationship. Therefore, to avoid the negative effects the actions of the lady would have on Woody’s career, family, and impression from others, he chose to commit an immoral act and made away with it unnoticed. It becomes evident that despite committing an immoral act, Woody was happier than he would be in the event his actions became public. Therefore, it becomes evident that there is a conflict between morality and happiness and there is the possibility of a happy immoralist. Moreover, the challenge in morality shows that an immoral person can be happy.
I agree with Cahn’s argument that the immoral person can also be happy. The primary reason is because happiness is part and parcel of human life. On the other hand, a person is faced with different circumstances in life that make it difficult for them to act in a given moral sense. It is important to note that morality should not be hypothetical but rather should be defined on the basis of fulfilling obligations and duties. For example, Cahn explains how Joan acted in a moral way but failed to secure herself the faculty position she was desiring (89). The case was different for Kate who acted immorally but later succeeded in her academic career. Therefore, the people derive happiness from what they desire for themselves meaning that the immoral person can declare they are truly happy.
Secondly, unlike the argument brought forth by Murphy that happiness is confused with flourishing, happiness acts as a synonym for pleasure. Aristotle acknowledged that most people associate wealth, pleasure, and honor with happiness. The immoralist depicted by Cahn exemplifies the above examples and therefore has the ability to thrive as a happy person. Despite the arguments given by Murphy to dismiss happiness of the immoralist, almost every person advocates for conditions that are pleasant and pleasurable. The immoralist could have used unscrupulous means to get to a certain point but what prevents them from taking part in activities that consist of pleasure. Besides, happiness cannot be ranked according to intensity but rather the activity in which a person engages in when seeking pleasure. Hence, the immoralist can take part in activities that bring them happiness.
Third, I support Cahn’s argument that the immoralist can be happy because there are times when virtual friendships are the most appropriate to make ends meet. Besides, viewing morality as an end to itself in order to determine whether one is happy or not confines the concept of morality. The challenge to morality as explained by Cahn is because individuals such as Murphy fear the gap between morality and happiness will widen and therefore affect the moral path of people in future. For this reason, the immoralist depicted by Cahn managed to gain wealth and fame as he used dishonest relationships to compliment his happiness. Besides, the immoralist claiming to be happy does not call for pity as he is obligated to perpetrate dishonest relationships to make his ends meet.
In conclusion, Cahn succeeds in arguing that the immoralist can be happy. The evidence he presents clearly reveals that some individuals act immorally but live with happiness thereafter. However, Murphy refutes the position taken by Cahn. In particular, Murphy insists that true happiness stems from exhibiting a personality that exemplifies human realization. It is important to note that Murphy acknowledges the happiness of the immoralist but claims that it is of temporary value making individuals vulnerable. The presence of individuals such as Woody and Kate who acted immorally but lived happily after is an indication that the immoralist can be happy.
Work Cited
Cahn, Steven M., and Jeffrie G. Murphy. "Happiness and immorality." (2009).
