The Morality of Disgust

This past Sunday, in the Dallas Morning News Points section, Drake Bennett wrote an insightful and intriguing article about human nature and disgust: is it present from birth? or do we learn to abhor certain people, places, and things? is it based on our moral values? or are we too judgmental?

Try this: Would you rather drink a glass of water into which a sterilized cockroach has been dropped, eat a piece of chocolate fudge shaped like a dog turd, or wear a freshly-washed sweater which was previously worn by Adolf Hitler?

None of the above? You're normal.

Nothing is innately wrong with any of the above three situations. None of them are morally wrong. None of them carry any danger. And yet most people would reject every single one.

Of course, there are the oft-quoted observations - people who wash their hands feel less guilt, judging in an ugly or smelly room make judges harsher, stronger verbs or adjectives turn people off (take vs. borrow, always vs. sometimes), and more.

There is no escape from chronic gullibility. We are all subject to it. But be encouraged. In the article, Bennett brings up a situation of 50 years ago, when many white people were 'disgusted' if they thought of drinking from a water fountain reserved for black people. Today, you will be hard-pressed to find half as many, or even a quarter as many people who would even care.

So, the next time you feel superior or stick out your tongue or hold your nose for a harmless situation, think about why. Good luck finding a reason.