Moral Agnostics

I've known many a scoundrel who has had a highly successful career.

That has never surprised me.

What has surprised me is the willingness - the eagerness in some cases - of individuals to shrug off the bad behavior and to say, in essence, that it doesn't matter. I tend to be a pretty forgiving fellow but nonjudgmentalism can devalue the behavior of those who act properly. If certain behavior does not carry a stigma, then how is it distinguished from behavior that deserves praise? And what does that attitude do to those who shrug? There is a line in the Talmud to the effect that those who are kind to the cruel, in the end will be cruel to the kind.

Another famous ethical observation, of course, is "Virtue is its own reward." Since justice often does not come in this lifetime, that's a very good one to keep in mind.