Doctor Phil

Morality and Dr. Phil

Admittedly he has a sharp sensitivity to the nuances of human psychology, behaviour and relationships. Although if you watch his show enough, or study enough about psychology, his position becomes very predictable.

In particular what is predictable is that if he would like you to see or act in a certain way, and you do not oblige, he wields the ancient club of the ten commandments - in a matter of a few phrases, a client can literally be submerged in a quagmire of guilt.

As humans become more civilised - or perhaps more correctly, become less uncivilised - morality gradually makes the evolutionary transition from a blunt, outward club to an inner, refined and individual creation. The direction is towards encouraging people to take up a paint brush, rather than having them capitulate to a club. Arguably to even take a single step in this direction opens a Pandora’s box: the counter-position between self realization and self(ish) indulgence. However it is humanities central evolutionary process.