Why “Do the right thing”?

In some discussions of morality, some people will say:

“If I’m not going to be acknowledged for behaving morally, I won’t.

“If there was no God, why would we be moral?”

“If no one was watching, I’d steal.”

“If I wasn’t afraid of getting caught, I’d cheat.”

 

O.K.–they are saying they have no internal compass for morality. That absent the approval of the tribe, or the fear of being cast into hell by God, or of being thrown into jail, or getting a painful divorce…they would do things considered...