Faith and Philosophy

Volume 6, Issue 3, July 1989

Judgmentalism

Under what circumstances, and with what attitudes, should we make moral evaluations of others? I attempt to answer this question by examining a common vice connected with moral evaluation, judgmentalism (the disposition to derive satisfaction from making negative moral assessment of others because one believes one’s own moral worth is enhanced by the failure of others). A Christian view of judgmentalism is discussed, as well as the vice which is the opposite of judgmentalism, moral cowardice (the disposition to be so adverse to making negative assessments of others that one avoids doing so even when such assessments are appropriate and warranted).