Striving to Be a Better Person
What Does “Doing good by being good” mean? Simply stated, it highlights the idea that when one acts with kindness and compassion (being good) it will lead to positive actions and outcomes (doing good). It suggests that a person’s inherent goodness, their moral character, is the foundation for their helpful and ethical behavior. This concept can be explored in various contexts, from personal relationships and community involvement to business practices and even the motivations behind charitable acts.
Motivation for Action
While both “doing good” and “being good” are important, the phrase “doing good by being good” highlights the significance of motivation. True goodness, according to this perspective, stems from an internal commitment to ethical principles. It means that a person wants to do the right thing, not because it will keep them out of trouble but because they treat all rational beings, including oneself, as ends in themselves, possessing inherent dignity and intrinsic value, rather than treating them merely as means to achieve their goals. This is known as the “Categorical Imperative” as expressed by the philosopher Immanuel Kant.
Kant believed that humanity should always be treated as an end in itself and never merely as a means to an end, a principle called the Humanity Formulation of the Categorical Imperative. This means that people should respect the inherent rational nature and autonomous choice of every individual, recognizing their intrinsic worth beyond any utility they might offer. Actions like lying, cheating, or violence are unethical because they fail to respect a person’s rational autonomy, either by deceiving them or by failing to consider their own goals and needs.
Interconnectedness of Moral Character and Ethical Actions
“Being good” suggests a consistent pattern of ethical behavior, while “doing good” can sometimes be a one-time action or a series of isolated acts. In essence, the idea of “doing good by being good” emphasizes the interconnectedness of moral character and ethical actions, suggesting that a genuine commitment to goodness is the most sustainable and impactful way to create positive change in the world.
“Doing good by being good” means acting ethically and morally not just through specific actions, but also through one’s inherent character and disposition. It’s about cultivating a virtuous character that naturally leads to beneficial actions, rather than simply performing good deeds for external reasons. In other words,
- “Doing good”: refers to specific actions that are considered beneficial or helpful to others or society.
- “Being good”: refers to one’s character, values, and moral disposition.
- “Doing good by being good”: implies that one’s actions reflect their inner moral compass and that they are motivated by genuine virtue rather than external factors or self-interest.
Developing a Moral Character
The ancient Greeks, Aristotle and Socrates, believed that ethical actions stem from a foundation of strong moral character and core values. It means that individuals who cultivate virtues like honesty, kindness, empathy, and responsibility are more likely to make ethical choices and contribute positively to society, regardless of specific rules or external pressures.
The Greek word arete translates to excellence, virtue, or the state of fulfilling one’s potential. It encompasses not just moral virtue, but also the idea of excelling in any field, whether it be one’s profession or activities such as athletics. Essentially, arete signifies the highest form of a person or thing’s inherent capabilities.
Here’s a breakdown of the meaning of moral character as the ancient Greeks conceived of it:
- Focus on Inner Character: Ethical behavior isn’t just about following rules or avoiding bad actions, but about developing a virtuous character from within.
- The Golden Rule as a Foundation: The concept highlights the importance of the Golden Rule – “treating others as you would wish to be treated” – as a guiding principle for cultivating ethical traits.
- Virtues as Building Blocks: Practicing virtues like honesty, kindness, empathy, and personal responsibility cultivates an “honorable and moral character.”
- Beyond Rules: Individuals with strong moral characters do not need external laws to guide them, as their ingrained values drive them to act responsibly.
- Developing Habits: Ethical character is developed through conscious effort and practice, making ethical responses habitual over time.
- Action Guiding (Indirectly): While it doesn’t provide specific rules for every situation, virtue ethics suggests that by cultivating a virtuous character, individuals can develop what the ancient Greeks thought of as phronesis or wisdom to navigate moral dilemmas effectively.
By doing good and being good one can gain eudaimonia, which means happiness to the Greeks, a concept often translated as human flourishing or a life well-lived. The pursuit of happiness is a goal in itself and can be achieved by acting with virtue. This suggests that living a virtuous life contributes to a sense of fulfillment and well-being.
The link between doing good and being good can be viewed through the lens of ethics. Ethics concerns an individual’s moral judgments about right and wrong. These judgments reflect our character and thought process – the way we reason through difficult decisions in life and choose between alternative courses of action. It is sometimes said that ethics is all about what we do when no one is looking. Ethical decisions are driven by a desire to do the right thing, not because it brings notoriety, monetary rewards, power, or prestige. Instead, being an ethical person is a goal in itself: I want to be a better person, so I choose to act in accordance with moral values, meaning ethically.
Posted by Dr. Steven Mintz, aka Ethics Sage, on August 18, 2025. Steve is the author of Beyond Happiness and Meaning: Transforming Your Life Through Ethical Behavior, which is available on Amazon. Learn more about his activities at: https://www.stevenmintzethics.com/ and signing up for the newsletter.