Gaus on Dirty Hands - by Jayme Frazier

I agree with Gaus that the problem of dirty hands is more rooted in moral theory than other issues of applied ethics. I think it is extremely important to take into account where a person stands on crossing the boundaries of their moral life in order to survive in the world which is already built around them. Although I agree that the problem of dirty hands exists more prevalently in the political arena I do not think that the problem is limited to politics alone. It is questionable of many people’s personal moral principles to do the things they have to in order to survive, so we as the common man are also forced to rank our principles and make choices between them. This is the point of Gaus’s argument that I found the most persuasive, that to look at rational thought as a problem of dirty hands is like analyzing why people have guilt. I agree that it is a reminder for us that we don’t want to undertake a task that we consider immoral; therefore it helps keep our own morality in check. Without the guilt brought on by dirty hands situations we would indeed lose track of our own values and principles and slowly degrade our original moral stance. For example in my own life I am against the persuasion of unassuming customers in the capitalist market to by products based on the knowledge of a persuasive sales person. However in order to pay for my own college degree so I can make art to speak out against such consumerist mentalities I am forced to take a job in retail where I commit this very injustice to people everyday. I of course feel guilty forsaking my principles for the return of cash, but without the job I would never be able to obtain a career in which I would be able to uphold my values. I am therefore faced with a do the means justify the ends controversy, and the problem of my hands being dirty as an artist speaking out against the very thing that allowed me to obtain my degree in art.