Santa and Scrooge by Andrew Pessin
Some people, looking for an inspiring role model, turn to religion and ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?” But it seems to me that Jesus himself probably wouldn’t ask that. So what about the next person: Santa?
Well, generosity is a good thing; I’m not questioning that. But we never learn just why Santa gives, and we cannot morally evaluate him without knowing his motivations. According to some, the actual historical source of the Santa legend originally gave only to the poor. That’s admirable, but there’s a long way between that and rewarding every little brat on the planet, including the rich ones. And with respect to today’s Santa-who rewards those who behave and punishes those who don’t- well, if children behave well only to get the latest video game then we’re hardly teaching them genuine morality. And if Santa is the key enabler there, so much the worse for Santa.
OK, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Suppose we simply grant that Santa gives out of his pure and natural generosity. Would that make him an ideal role model?
Maybe. But there’s another possibility. Consider Dickens’ famous character Scrooge. Scrooge is not exactly a generous person. He is, well, a real scrooge. But let’s alter the details of the story a bit. By the end of his experience he remains the same basic character he is: grouchy, unpleasant, and decidedly ungenerous. But now the philosopher within him has reached the conclusion that being generous is a good and admirable virtue. Unlike Santa he doesn’t feel like being generous, and he has to overcome something within him in order to be generous. But he does so because he is now guided by what is right rather than how he feels.
So now who is more admirable: the generous person who gives easily, naturally, or the person who has to overcome even his own natural antipathy in order to act generously?
I wonder what Santa and Scrooge would say.
Well, generosity is a good thing; I’m not questioning that. But we never learn just why Santa gives, and we cannot morally evaluate him without knowing his motivations. According to some, the actual historical source of the Santa legend originally gave only to the poor. That’s admirable, but there’s a long way between that and rewarding every little brat on the planet, including the rich ones. And with respect to today’s Santa-who rewards those who behave and punishes those who don’t- well, if children behave well only to get the latest video game then we’re hardly teaching them genuine morality. And if Santa is the key enabler there, so much the worse for Santa.
OK, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Suppose we simply grant that Santa gives out of his pure and natural generosity. Would that make him an ideal role model?
Maybe. But there’s another possibility. Consider Dickens’ famous character Scrooge. Scrooge is not exactly a generous person. He is, well, a real scrooge. But let’s alter the details of the story a bit. By the end of his experience he remains the same basic character he is: grouchy, unpleasant, and decidedly ungenerous. But now the philosopher within him has reached the conclusion that being generous is a good and admirable virtue. Unlike Santa he doesn’t feel like being generous, and he has to overcome something within him in order to be generous. But he does so because he is now guided by what is right rather than how he feels.
So now who is more admirable: the generous person who gives easily, naturally, or the person who has to overcome even his own natural antipathy in order to act generously?
I wonder what Santa and Scrooge would say.