Jesus never instructed men to do what was right because it was right; yet this is the true reason why they should do it

Jesus never instructed men to do what was right because it was right; yet this is the true reason why they should do it

Lysander Spooner, a 19th-century American individualist anarchist, was known for his radical views on government and the law. He believed in the inherent rights of individuals to govern themselves and rejected the idea of a centralized authority dictating morality and behavior. In this context, the quote “Jesus never instructed men to do what was right because it was right; yet this is the true reason why they should do it” takes on a deeper meaning when applied to Spooner’s philosophy.

Spooner’s rejection of external authority and his emphasis on individual conscience align with the idea that doing what is right should not be based on following rules or commands, but rather on a personal understanding of morality and ethics. Jesus, as a moral teacher in the Christian tradition, often emphasized the importance of doing what is right out of love and compassion for others, rather than simply following a set of rules or laws. This aligns with Spooner’s belief that individuals should act according to their own conscience and understanding of what is right, rather than blindly obeying external authorities.