21 Mar Tarnishing the green halo

A study [pdf] by U of T researchers Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong purports to show that people who purchase green products behave less altruistically.

[P]eople act more altruistically after mere exposure to green products than after mere exposure to conventional products. However, people act less altruistically and are more likely to cheat and steal, after purchasing green products than after purchasing conventional products

UK Guardian columnist James Baggini thinks he know why:

The general truth lurking behind these findings is that the feeling of being pure is a moral contaminant. In ethical terms, the best never think that they are the best, and those that believe themselves to be on the side of the angels are often the worst devils.

Why should this be so? One reason is that complacency is as dangerous in ethics as it is in any other area of life where we strive for excellence. If we think we are “good people” we might think less about the possibility that we might actually be doing wrong.

This explanation echos my long ago analysis of former Premier Donald Cameron, a basically good man who was so convinced of his pure motives, he took actions he would have condemned in others, thinking they must be OK because he was doing them. Outcome: Westray.

Life lesson: Beware of people who have God on their side.

Via Andrew Sullivan.