There is only one justification for universities, as distinguished from trade schools. They must be centers of criticism.
Robert M. HutchinsRead
Every act of every man is a moral act, to be tested by moral, and not by economic criteria.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Every action taken by a person carries a moral weight that should be evaluated based on ethics rather than economic outcomes.
This quote emphasizes that all human actions are inherently moral and should be judged by ethical standards rather than solely by their economic impact. Robert M. Hutchins argues that reducing our actions to mere economic considerations undermines the moral implications of our choices, suggesting that ethical accountability is paramount in guiding behavior and decision-making.
Themes
MoralityEthicsDecision-MakingHuman ActionsEconomic Criteria
In practice
Example use cases
During a business ethics seminar, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of moral decision-making.
More from Robert M. Hutchins
All quotes βEquality and justice, the two great distinguishing characteristics of democracy, follow inevitably from the conception of men, all men, as rational and spiritual beings.
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Education is a kind of continuing dialogue, and a dialogue assumes different points of view.
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A student can win twelve letters at a university without learning how to write one.
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A civilization in which there is not a continuous controversy about important issues is on the way to totalitarianism and death
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America's experiment with government of the people, by the people, and for the people depends not only on constitutional structure and organization but also on the commitment, person to person, that we make to each other.
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