 |
| GTA: trekearth |
Collective Guilt
May 3, 2016 article, which has been edited and reformatted for an entry on academia.edu on August 8, 2022.
I continue with my review of the Pirie text:
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
Pirie:
'Guilt is something that pertains to individuals, not to institutions or categories.' (59).
I can grant the point. However, having written on corporate ethics at times on this site, I reason there are many times when individuals within corporations and organizations should transfer individual human guilt to a corporate level, repent and make restitution where this is possible.
The corporate entity, and not just in a business context to be clear, should not be by its existence therefore able to excuse itself, to forget the sin and guilt of its individuals and to avoid repentance.
I can again grant what Pirie is stating:
'...it is a fallacy to suppose that the guilt pertains collectively to the group'. (59).
Not every person in a corporate context is necessarily guilty, but at the same time this should not prohibit a corporate entity, in various contexts, not just business, from taking moral and ethical responsibility for the wrong acts and actions of some individuals within the group.
Would this not be even more the case when it is immoral and unethical actions from corporate leadership?
Pirie wisely states in the context of historical wrongs committed by the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that 'Crimes and misdeeds are committed by people, not by nationalities.' (59).
Theologically and Biblically, although it could be stated that humanity has the collective guilt of sin against God (Romans 1-6, Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15, Hebrews 4 and 9); it is still true that all persons are judged individually.
Some key examples:
Revelation 20
The unregenerate are judged for sins, not being covered by atonement of Christ. Everyone judged according to their deeds (New American Standard Bible Revelation 20: 12-13). Those not in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. This is likely figurative literal language for everlasting hell (14-15).
Biblehub
'Strong's Concordance ergon: work Original Word: ἔργον, ου, τό Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ergon Phonetic Spelling: (er'-gon) Short Definition: work, labor, action, deed Definition: work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.'
Strong (41).
Greek New Testament
From Revelation 20: 12 and 13
Byzantine Majority
kata ta erga autwn
according to the works of them
Alexandrian
kata ta erga autwn
according to the works of them
Hort and Westcott
kata ta erga autwn
according to the works of them
According to works, deed, actions.
2 Corinthians 5
The regenerate in Christ are judged for works as in 'deeds in the body...whether good or bad.' (New American Standard Bible 2 Corinthians 5: 10).
Biblehub
'Strong's Concordance prassó: to do, practice Original Word: πράσσω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prassó Phonetic Spelling: (pras'-so) Short Definition: I do, fare, require Definition: I do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require. Strong (80).
Deeds and works, practiced.
Greek New Testament
epraxen
Be practiced
The Greek matches from Alfred Marshall and also Byzantine Majority, Alexandrian and Hort and Westcott manuscripts.
1 Corinthians 3
Those that build upon the foundation (12) will have their work tested (13) and be rewarded (14) or the works (work) burned up (15). A reference to the post-foundational work of those in Christ that built upon the New Testament gospel work.
Although both exist, Biblically, for God, in the New Testament context especially, individual human guilt seems to take priority over collective guilt, in regards to judgment. I acknowledge here that the Hebrew Bible, in regards to the judgement of Israel, as a key, but not only example, does have a strong corporate judgement component. This is not overlooked in the New Testament writings of Paul, for example in Romans and Galatians. See also Hebrews.
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
Pirie:
'Guilt is something that pertains to individuals, not to institutions or categories.' (59).
I can grant the point. However, having written on corporate ethics at times on this site, I reason there are many times when individuals within corporations and organizations should transfer individual human guilt to a corporate level, repent and make restitution where this is possible.
The corporate entity, and not just in a business context to be clear, should not be by its existence therefore able to excuse itself, to forget the sin and guilt of its individuals and to avoid repentance.
I can again grant what Pirie is stating:
'...it is a fallacy to suppose that the guilt pertains collectively to the group'. (59).
Not every person in a corporate context is necessarily guilty, but at the same time this should not prohibit a corporate entity, in various contexts, not just business, from taking moral and ethical responsibility for the wrong acts and actions of some individuals within the group.
Would this not be even more the case when it is immoral and unethical actions from corporate leadership?
Pirie wisely states in the context of historical wrongs committed by the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that 'Crimes and misdeeds are committed by people, not by nationalities.' (59).
Theologically and Biblically, although it could be stated that humanity has the collective guilt of sin against God (Romans 1-6, Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 15, Hebrews 4 and 9); it is still true that all persons are judged individually.
Some key examples:
Revelation 20
The unregenerate are judged for sins, not being covered by atonement of Christ. Everyone judged according to their deeds (New American Standard Bible Revelation 20: 12-13). Those not in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. This is likely figurative literal language for everlasting hell (14-15).
Biblehub
'Strong's Concordance ergon: work Original Word: ἔργον, ου, τό Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ergon Phonetic Spelling: (er'-gon) Short Definition: work, labor, action, deed Definition: work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.'
Strong (41).
Greek New Testament
From Revelation 20: 12 and 13
Byzantine Majority
kata ta erga autwn
according to the works of them
kata ta erga autwn
according to the works of them
Hort and Westcott
kata ta erga autwn
according to the works of them
According to works, deed, actions.
2 Corinthians 5
The regenerate in Christ are judged for works as in 'deeds in the body...whether good or bad.' (New American Standard Bible 2 Corinthians 5: 10).
Biblehub
'Strong's Concordance prassó: to do, practice Original Word: πράσσω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prassó Phonetic Spelling: (pras'-so) Short Definition: I do, fare, require Definition: I do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require. Strong (80).
Deeds and works, practiced.
Greek New Testament
epraxen
Be practiced
The Greek matches from Alfred Marshall and also Byzantine Majority, Alexandrian and Hort and Westcott manuscripts.
1 Corinthians 3
Those that build upon the foundation (12) will have their work tested (13) and be rewarded (14) or the works (work) burned up (15). A reference to the post-foundational work of those in Christ that built upon the New Testament gospel work.
Although both exist, Biblically, for God, in the New Testament context especially, individual human guilt seems to take priority over collective guilt, in regards to judgment. I acknowledge here that the Hebrew Bible, in regards to the judgement of Israel, as a key, but not only example, does have a strong corporate judgement component. This is not overlooked in the New Testament writings of Paul, for example in Romans and Galatians. See also Hebrews.
---
ALLEN, LESLIE. C, in Bruce, F.F. (ed.), (1986), Romans, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
BOICE, JAMES, MONTGOMERY (1981) Foundations of the Christian Faith, Downers Grove, IVP Press.
BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
BRUCE, F.F., (1963)(1996) Romans, Grand Rapids, IVP/Eerdmans.
BRUCE, F.F. (1987) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
BRUCE, F.F. (ed.), (1986) The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
CLINES, DAVID, J. A. (1986), 2 Corinthians, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
CONWAY DAVID A. AND RONALD MUNSON (1997) The Elements of Reasoning, Wadsworth Publishing Company, New York.
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.
ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.
FEE, GORDON D. (1987) The First Epistle To The Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
HAMILTON, VICTOR P. (1988) Handbook on the Pentateuch, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
HOCKING, DAVID (2014) The Book of Revelation, Tustin, California, HFT Publications.
LANGER, SUSANNE K (1953)(1967) An Introduction to Symbolic Logic, Dover Publications, New York. (Philosophy).
LA SOR, WILLIAM SANFORD, DAVID ALLAN HUBBARD, AND FREDERIC WILLIAM BUSH. (1987) Old Testament Survey, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
MARSH, PAUL, W. (1986) ‘1 Corinthians’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.
PAPINEAU, DAVID (Gen. Ed) (2016) Philosophy: Theories and Great Thinkers (2016), New York, Shelter Harbour Press.
PAPINEAU, DAVID (Gen. Ed) (2016) Philosophy: Theories and Great Thinkers (2016), New York, Shelter Harbour Press.
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
