Moral content has traditionally been located in the fields of spirituality, common
sense and intuition; and the themes we are discussing often received clear indications
thereby. There is an illustrative story from the biblical tradition, in Matthew 21
(the two sons). A father asks his sons to help him at work: the one promises to go and
does not; the other refuses but eventually goes. On the one hand we have a good stated
intention followed by a selfish behaviour, on the other hand a selfish intention followed
by altruist behaviour. We are not told whether the first son’s intention is honest, but we
are led to understand it is not. As for the second son, we are not told the reason of his first
reply. It may be the effect of thoughtlessness, provocation, self-interest he repents of. His
change of mind might be just a second thought, differently motivated. This seems
indifferent to the Evangelist, who transparently seems to prefer him. The Good
Samaritan is lauded for his action: we do not know his intent.