DISCOURSE ON MORALITY, CORRUPTION AND CHANGE IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA: DOES INTENTION MATTER?

Ademowo, Adeyemi Johnson (2014) DISCOURSE ON MORALITY, CORRUPTION AND CHANGE IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA: DOES INTENTION MATTER? Journal of Advances in Humanities, 2 (1). pp. 1-6. ISSN 2349-4379

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Abstract

Corruption is widely regarded as a condemnable act because of its effects on the wellbeing of the populace. More than the reason(s) for the supposed act of corruption, most scholars are of the view that the very act of „diverting‟ public funds, with likely severe consequence(s), is unacceptable, and therefore immoral. But the question is: should the morality of an act be decided strictly based on the consequence(s) of such an action or should the intent of the „performer‟ be considered? In this paper we shall be examining the „consequences versus intent‟ factor in the definition of corruption within the public space, using T.M. Scalon‟s „Predictive Significance‟. In the final analysis, the work suggests that neither consequences nor intent is solely sufficient in evaluating the morality of corruption. We therefore suggest that both intent and consequences should be duly considered within the ambit of Scalon‟s „Predictive Significance‟ when moralising corruption, most especially in Africa where change is much needed.

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