A Look Back On The Philosophy Of The Good Place Part 1
The Good Place was a show that questioned everyone’s definition of good and bad morality, and taught everyone what it means to be ethically good. One of the things that most viewers often miss are the technical references to philosophical and ever developing ethical theories. In this three part series, I will go over some of the philosophical references in The Good Place and do a deep dive analysis of its impact on the overarching themes and characters.
Cruelty and Justice
At the very beginning of the show, The Good Place showcases a unique and intricate point system that tracks every person’s choice throughout their life and gives them a total number of points that will decide if they go to the good place or not. While the system is later revealed to be flawed by a super technical aspect, it questioned standard judiciary systems that imposes cruel and unusual punishments.
Philosopher and political theorist, Judith Shklar wrote an essay called “Putting Cruelty First” (Referenced in the season 4 episode “You’ve Changed Man). In this essay, she talks about how the trait of cruelty is society’s primary flaw and often has a tendency to implement a punishment that is too cruel for the crime committed.
An example of this, would be getting arrested for selling a joint, and your punishment is to serve time at Guantanamo Bay. A punishment that is too cruel for the crime, and some countries actually practice similar forms of drastic punishments like this for the sake of peace and order. The most notably case of this would be Singapore, as the penalty for smuggling in any kind of illegal substance is death.
If the punishment is overtly cruel, why does everybody accept it for how it is? In the essay, Shklar identifies the punishment as a sign of order, as the decision was made by a judge who represents law and order. Everybody uninvolved will trust in the judge’s decision, because society has trusted that person to uphold the laws of society. However to the victims who receive the punishment, they are faced with drastic uncertainty. Shklar then asks the question:
“Was it better to plead for pity or display defiance in the face of cruelty? There are no certain answers. Victims have no certainties. They must cope, without guide books to help them.”
Being faced with uncertainty upon their discovery of being sent to the bad place, Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason reflected on their past behavior and coped with the choices they have made. However, when they realized that the system is flawed, they sought out and challenged the universe with very little guidance to help them.
Relying on the fundamental principles of ethics taught by Chidi, they faced against the cruelty of the universe and proved to the judge of the universe that the point system is flawed. Together, with the help of Micheal and Janet, they were able to create a new afterlife system with rules and regulation to prevent such a flaw to ever occur again.
While we only get to see a glimpse of the redesigning process towards the last few episodes, we know that perfecting this system took a long period of time as it was measured in “Jeremy Bearimy’s.” This indicates that there must have been many trial and errors to get to the final byproduct. At some point, they must have decided upon an objective set of rules and laws that is good enough to follow with this new system. Shklar identifies that an unbiased set of laws are absolutely needed in society, specifically stating that:
“Society did not depend on personal virtue for its survival. A society of compete villains would be glued together just as well as ours, and would be no worse in general. Not morality, but physical need and laws, even the most ferocious, keep us together.”
Shklar argued that genuine morality does not keep a society together, but unbiased laws keep society together. By identifying that society and morality are two different entities of its own accord, she points out that societal laws create a sense of unity among all of us and if those laws are too cruel and unusual, then people would take action to change these unbiased laws.
The show has went over the notion that ‘change is always possible’ on multiple accounts and specifically points out that with the right people by your side, it is possible to change anything. However, to change a law that has a cruel and unusual punishment requires constant attention and care to formally shape it into something that is fair and just for everyone. It is up to the citizens of that society to do their duty and do everything in their power to change any unusual laws.
If you liked Part 1 of this three part series, be sure to clap the fork out of it. If you haven’t checked out Part 2 and Part 3 of this series go ahead and check them out!
