SCHILLER: Five passers-by

A man fell into the hands of a gang of robbers who stripped him of his clothes and threw him in the path in the bitter cold wind.

A passerby walked up to him in a car, and the victim complained to him about his or her plight and pleaded for help. The passerby replied sympathetically: "I pity you, and I would rather give you everything I have." But please don't ask for any other services, because your appearance makes me sad. You see, there are people there, please give them this money bag, they will help you. The victim replied, "Thank you, but if the humane duty requires this suffering, then there should also be the power to face it." Your entire purse is not worth even half of your sensory nerve effort. ”

What is this behavior? It is neither beneficial nor moral, nor generous, nor beautiful. This kind of behavior is only a flicker of kindness, just a burst of kindness.

A second passerby appeared; the victim made his own request. His money was precious to this second man, but he still wanted to fulfill his humane duty. "If I waste time for you, I'm missing out on the opportunity to make money," he said. If you pay the money I have lost, then I will carry you to the monastery, an hour's walk from here. The victim retorted: "It was a rational decision, but it should be said that your willingness to work hard costs you much." You see, there's a man on horseback, and he's going to help me, and you're selling that help for money. ”

What is this behavior? There is neither kindness nor duty, neither generosity nor beauty. There are only interests.

The third man stopped, and the victim repeated his doom to him. After listening to the narration, the man pondered for a moment and struggled with himself. Finally he said, "It's hard for me to leave my coat, it's the only protection for my huge body, and it's hard to leave you my horse because I'm exhausted." But the obligation commands me to help you. Just sit on my horse and wrap it in my coat—I'll send you to a place that will help you. The victim replied, "Kind man, thank you for your kindness, but you yourself are in a difficult situation and should not suffer for me." You see, there are two strong people coming out there, and they're going to help me, you're too hard. ”

This act is purely moral (but not more so) because its completion is an opinion against the sensual nature, out of respect for moral law.

At this time two passers-by walked up to the victim and began to inquire about his misfortune. As soon as he spoke, the two of them cried out in surprise, "This is him!" That's exactly the guy we're looking for. And he recognized them, and was surprised and angry.

He understood that they recognized him as the enemy they had pleaded with, or the sinner who had caused their misfortune, and that they were chasing him to pay him back the blood debt. He said, "Let your resentment and revenge be granted, I can only expect death from you."

"No," replied one of them, "so that you know who we are and who you are, take this robe and put it on." Together, we will set you up and take you to a place that will help you. The man was deeply moved and sighed: "Ah, magnanimous enemies, you have shamed me, you have lifted my resentment!" Let me embrace you and accomplish good deeds with sincere forgiveness! The man replied coldly, "Be quiet, friend, not because I want to help you and forgive you, but because you have suffered misfortune." "Then please take your clothes back," said the victim in a loud voice, taking off his clothes from himself, "resigned to fate; it is better to die than to be the one who accepts the life-saving grace of the arrogant enemy." ”

He stood up and tried to set off, but then a fifth passerby came up to him, a man carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders. The victim thought, "I've been deceived so many times, and this man doesn't look like the kind of person who wants to help me, so let him pass by." ”

Passers-by found him and immediately lowered their burdens. He said according to his impulse: "I see, you are injured and have no strength. The nearest village is also far away, and before barely getting to the village, you will be exhausted by excessive bleeding. Lie on my back and I will set out on my way and take you to the village in good spirits. "What about your burden?" Then you have to throw the burden on the road. "I don't know, and I don't want to." "All I know is that you need help, and I have an obligation to help you." ”

Please take a moment to seriously think about why the behavior of the burden is beautiful.

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The beauty of the fifth man's behavior should lie in his characteristics that distinguish him from all first-comers.

Thus, (1) all five are ready to help; (2) most choose the appropriate means for this; (3) most are prepared to sacrifice something; and (4) some have achieved a great victory over themselves at this time. One of them acts according to the purest moral impulses. But only the fifth man did not ask for help and did not hesitate to help, although this required him to make a sacrifice; only the fifth man completely forgot himself, and fulfilled his duty so easily as if it were merely instinct that became the motive for his action." It follows that moral behavior is the act of beauty when there is a natural activity that does not occur as a result of external forces.