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The Moral Decadence In Nietzsche’s Philosophical Writings
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
Page 4 of 5
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There
are seven particular conditions which may lessen or remove moral
responsibility entirely: ignorance, fear, concupiscence, violence,
habit, temperament, and nervous mental disorders. Let us examine some of
them:
Ignorance: This is lack of knowledge in a person capable of
knowing. We are responsible in some cases for knowledge; in other cases,
we are not. There are different types of ignorance;
Vincible
Ignorance: is that which can and should be dispelled. It implies
culpable negligence, meaning that the person could know and ought to
know. There are three main types of vincible ignorance: simple vincible
ignorance, affected or studied vincible ignorance and crass vincible
ignorance.
Simple Vincible Ignorance: is present when one makes some
effort, but not a sufficient effort, to dispel the ignorance. A nurse
who is unsure of what dosage of medicine to give to a patient refers to
the doctor’s order sheet, but is unable to read his writing. Though the
doctor is in the office, she does not bother to call him. In guessing at
the dosage to give to the patient, the nurse is guilty of simple
vincible ignorance.
Affected Vincible Ignorance: is that which is
deliberately fostered in order to avoid any obligation that knowledge
might bring to light. For example, a person suspects that it is
seriously wrong to absent from Mass deliberately on Sunday, but he makes
no effort to find out the truth.
Crass Vincible Ignorance: is that
which results from total lack of effort to acquire the lacking knowledge
due to laziness. A clerk in a convenience store does not know the price
of an article brought to the checkout counter. The owner is in the back
of the store, but the clerk does not want to bother the owner to find
out the price of the product. So he makes up a price and charges the
customer that amount.
Invincible Ignorance: is that which cannot be
dispelled either because the individual is unable to secure adequate
information, even after a reasonable effort, or because he simply does
not know that there is any problem. In other word, he is ignorant of
this ignorance. The person cannot be expected to take steps to enlighten
himself because he is unaware that he is in need of enlightenment. For
example, an employee customarily tells lies by way of making excuses for
minor faults and feels that, since they harm no one, they are in no way
sinful. He is not aware that he needs enlightenment on this matter.
Another individual may be confused in mind about a project, but after
having made a reasonable effort to dispel his ignorance, and having
failed to do so, he may proceed to act since once a reasonable effort to
dispel his ignorance, and having failed to do so, he may proceed to act
since once a reasonable effort has been made, the ignorance is
invincible.
We may sum up the moral principles concerning ignorance
by stating that invincible ignorance eliminates responsibility while
vincible ignorance lessens responsibility without actually eliminating
it.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
Page 4 of 5
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