In Jacob Bronowski’s essay, to be found in “A Sense of the Future: Essays in Natural Philosophy” (1978) his central hypothesis states that to be moral, the individual should care about others, value them, and know that any action taken must be done so in recognition of its consequences to our fellow man, as well as to oneself.  That premise is a universal truth of morality, a truth which drives us to follow our conscience and apply a moral judgment to every action in life.  

To illustrate this concept, Bronowski used the incident concerning how Louis Slotin, who helped to create the atomic bomb during 1945 and 1946, died as a result of an accident involving experiments with plutonium.  Small amounts of this radioactive substance presented little danger, but when put together, “they form a larger explosive mass”   (Bronowski, 1978). As a result of this, a chain reaction, neutrons and radioactive rays are given off to an extremely dangerous level.  This was exactly what occurred when Slotin’s screwdriver accidentally slipped; the room began to fill with radioactivity.  He was working with seven other people in close proximity.  Slotin pulled the plutonium apart with his bare hands, fully aware that he would die, but that his action would save his colleagues.  He was even able to tell them what level of radiation sickness each would suffer, and for how long, based on the distances each one stood from him at the time of the accident.  He was correct, and as for Slotin himself, he died, nine days later.

Here was a scientist who, in caring for others as much as himself, demonstrated a huge amount of heroism and moral integrity.  With scientific judgment and intellectual evaluation, he weighed up the consequences to himself and others.  Bronowski stated that these qualities represented the two elements of “the highest morality: to combine human love with an unflinching scientific judgment..”    He ended  the essay by  stating that no matter what path a person follows, each individual, in order to achieve true morality, must look inside his or herself, listen to their conscience, use their intellect, and act accordingly.  He believed we all have the ability to be moral, and I think he was totally correct.

Thankfully, most of us will never have to go to such lengths, and indeed, many of us lack the courage to do so.  Though it must be said that Slotin’s actions call to mind the people who risked their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust, during World War Two.  Or, consider the comrades in arms who put themselves on the line, throughout history and up to the present day.  Look at the emergency services workers at the Twin Towers, on 9/11 and see a complete and beautiful example of moral integrity in action.   People who cared, people who had chosen a path in life to serve others, who, when called upon, examined their consciences, weighed up the consequences and acted morally.  No, they acted heroically.

Moral integrity is what enables the individual to consider always how others would be affected by our actions, because we have an inborn ability to understand that others matter too.  Maybe we are no longer living in “an age of plenty” and that alone may awaken us to the realization that we do indeed have the capacity to be moral, in the way that Bronowski described morality.  Maybe, today’s circumstances even afford us the opportunities to truly care for others, to examine our consciences and weigh up consequences, finally becoming brave.  In my opinion, we can do this; Bronowski got it right.

Source: Bronowski, J.  A Moral for an Age of Plenty.  In:  A Sense of the Future: Essays in Natural Philosophy.  Cambridge.  MIT Press. 1978.