Our Culture Expects Self-Justification

I really like David Chapman's explication of what he calls “reasonableness” and “accountability.”

At least in the culture he and I live in, one is constantly called to account for one's behavior. At any moment, one may be asked “what are you doing?” or “why did you do that?” And one is expected to provide a reasonable answer.

What's a reasonable answer?

It's not a rigorous, beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt proof that at this very moment one is engaging in “optimal” or “morally correct” or “maximally virtuous” behavior. That would indeed be an unfair expectation! Nobody could possibly provide such a justification on demand.

What people actually expect is a more-or-less plausible-sounding account that makes your actions sound understandable, relatable, and okay.

You have a lot of leeway to present yourself in a favorable light. Not infinite leeway — if you’re caught shoplifting, it probably won’t be [...]

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Outline:

(00:14) Our Culture Expects Self-Justification

(01:43) Asking for favors

(02:52) Denying requests

(04:09) Defending Your Reasoning

(05:24) Demanding Justification is a Cheap Heuristic

(06:24) It's Good To Have A Self-Serving Narrative

(07:51) Isn't This Just Rationalization?

(10:23) Everybody Gets To Stop Somewhere

(11:52) Don't Knock Mere Feeling Good

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First published:

Source:

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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