Drizzle (The Categorical Imperative) – Penelope Scott

The value of a short-term result
Pales in comparison to that of goodwill

Emmanuel Kant said that we should be good to each other
As we would be good to ourselves
Treat people as ends and not means
If the murderer asks after family you tell
The truth to him

The structure is kind
The intention so sweet
So in his eyes I’d say that he won
But for me
You see
It’s never quite done

Trees lose their leaves
When they flower I grieve
And everything always feels wrong
The state kills the innocent
God picks on Job
And boys take away my songs

Because any desirable trait can be turned undesirable
Or in future “evil”
No trait can be seen as the source of goodness
Instead, goodwill itself is the essence of goodness
And remains the essence of goodness regardless of its outcome
This is why one should act according to the categorical imperative

Well it’s rained for three days straight
And I wouldn’t be off to suggest
It’ll rain for three more
We open the window
To get some fresh air
But it make the whole room just a little colder
And what’s on your mind?
Are you low?
Are you high?
Are you having a pretty good run?

What’s on your mind
Would you like to try mine?
For me it’s never quite done

Trees lose their leaves
When they flower I grieve
And everything always feels wrong
The state kills the innocent
God picks on Job
And boys take away my songs

God does not owe the special treatment that Deontology reserves for people
And if God’s law is unjust
Then Deontology would demand acting against it
Regardless of the consequences
Neither Kant nor Toronto hold that Job’s God as the authority on goodness

Trees lose their leaves
When they flower I grieve
And everything always feels wrong
The state kills the innocent
God picks on Job
And boys take away my songs

It is up to people to define what is ought to be done
And to do what they can to carry these good actions out
Even if the God they live under disagrees
And even if it means that the system must be changed