Chain 30

From Chains of Reason

The morality or immorality of a person's actions depends on not just whether the act is in accordance moral rules, but also the person's motivation.

Link 1

Premise 1

All moralities share the core principle that one has an obligation to always think and act in the best interests of certain entities - such as people (including oneself), animals, the environment in general, a god, etc. - and as an end in itself, and differ in what those entities are, and what kinds of thoughts and actions are, or are not, in the best interests of those entities, and are therefore moral and immoral, respectively.

Premise 2

It is possible for a person to act in accordance with a moral rule merely as a means to an end, such as when someone so acts merely in order to avoid punishment for not doing so.

Conclusion

The morality or immorality of a person's actions depends on not just whether the act is in accordance moral rules, but also the person's motivation.