more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Gist of Idea
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy
Source
Jesus (reports [c.32]), quoted by St Matthew - 01: Gospel of St Matthew 05.07
Book Ref
'The Bible', ed/tr. the Church [Collins 1950], p.458
A Reaction
This appears to be a straightforward application of social contract morality, with God playing the role of Hobbes' absolute monarch. It highlights the uncomfortable fact at the heart of Christian morality, that the motivation for altruism is selfish.
| 8 | Is right just the interests of the powerful? [Plato] |
| 6286 | Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy [Jesus] |
| 2375 | Suspicion will not destroy a contract, if there is a common power to enforce it [Hobbes] |
| 8016 | Fear of sanctions is the only motive for acceptance of authority that Hobbes can think of [MacIntyre on Hobbes] |