17/11/2009

Can we have too much choice? This was another theme at the recent debates held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Money, Integrity and Wellbeing.

“Has choice itself become the highest good, rather than what we might choose?” asked the Bishop of London . Being able to choose from among a large variety of goods and services is surely one of the key benefits of the market economy. And the wealthier our economy the more choices we can make. But how we make our choices cannot be detached from the consequences they have on others. Every time we choose something, our choice has a moral dimension. As St Paul said: ““All things are lawful” – but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful” – but not all things build up ”. It’s worth noting that St Paul gives an idea of what should govern our choice when he goes on to say “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbour ”.

What we choose has an impact on those around us, our neighbours if you like, but perhaps we don’t often consider this aspect of our choice but focus only on what’s good for us. I felt challenged about this when at one of the debates it was suggested that for those of us working in London’s financial district our neighbours were the overnight cleaners we never saw who were paid the minimum wage, rather than what was enough to live in London. This is the result of our choices in a free market, but perhaps we hadn’t thought through all the consequences.