Her friend who treated her maid badly was not a wicked person. She behaved well towards her family...but when it came to her maid...she seemed to have little concern for her feelings. It occurred to Mma Ramotswe that such behaviour was no more than ignorance; an inability to understand the hopes and aspirations of others. Theat understanding...was the beginning of all morality. If you knew how a person was feeling, if you could imagine yourself in her position, then surely it would be impossible to inflict further pain. Inflicting pain in such circumstances would be like hurting oneself.
In "Morality for Beautiful Girls," Mma Ramotswe reflects on her friend's treatment of her maid, noting that while her friend was generally kind to her family, she lacked empathy towards her employee. This behavior, she believes, stems from ignorance rather than malevolence. It highlights a failure to recognize and appreciate the feelings and aspirations of others, which can lead to unintentional harm.
Mma Ramotswe's insight emphasizes that true morality begins with understanding others. If one can imagine themselves in another's situation and grasp their emotions, intentionally causing distress becomes unthinkable. This perspective suggests that empathy is foundational to ethical behavior, as inflicting pain on another feels akin to inflicting pain on oneself.
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