"Taking the Long View"

Part of the attraction to me of teleological ethics is that it is based on taking the long view. Basically, telos is the Greek word for "end" or goal, and this kind of ethics practices that living should be based on the view of what would be best for the most people in the end. In a way, this view of ethics is humble because it allows for different ideas of the means to this ultimate goal, while individually deciding on the consequences of our actions if all people made our decision.

Taking the long view of ethics is a way of getting outside of ourselves. It leads us to have a concern for the common good. in a sense then this way of approaching ethics is the opposite of hedonism or any kind of view which cares only about ourselves. it is broader than duty ethics (deontological) because it looks forward and not just back to the rules that might determine our behavior and broader than situational ethics because it looks beyond the present to the future.

Taking the long view is particularly important in the times in which we live. it seems like "reality television" dominates our age. Some would even say that the president-elect in the United States is a "reality television" star. Reality television seems to be based on getting immersed in the moment. The only thing that matters in reality television is that which is happening right now. Decision making in the present is based solely upon if I do what I am doing right now I will be happier or richer than I am now.

If we are isolating ourselves in the present, the best dose of reality is to realize that not everything is about us. What I do has an impact on other human beings. In all due humility, who we are and what we do will mostly not be remembered in the future. But the sum consequences of our behavior, when taken together with many others who make those same choices just for ourselves and for today, will have extreme and important consequences.

Many Christians have adopted the teleological ethical point of view based on the Biblical view of community life. We are made for relationships with others, and what we do should always take into consideration other people. Certainly Jesus lived His life in community and encouraged His disciples to do so. Family life for Christians is a laboratory for living in community. When we consider what is good not just for us, but for our Christian community or our family we begin to get outside of our selves. This view will lead us to make a difference in our society and our world. it will overcome any "checking out" on what is going on in our world as if that would absolve us from taking responsibility for the world.

Keeping broad horizons will be so important as we enter a new era of American presidency. We will need to be community minded and long-term result minded as we seek to live under a president and administration which seems to have the narrow, self-interested view of things. It is a time to believe and practice that what we do will have an effect on humankind in the end. Living in this time and setting we need to balance those who live and govern primarily from self-interest, and to continually urge and work toward a goal for what is best for all.

"Taking the long view" will get us through 2017 and beyond. It will also be important to remind ourselves again and again that ultimately everything is in God's hands!