Earning Favor

With utility based relationships the goal is for both sides to be satisfied with the results. This is minimized when there is a clear understanding. When there is satisfaction, where justice is perceived by both parties, a bond is formed. We consider each other reliable and just. This is true of other virtues also; those who have formed habits to do what is right will have predictable behavior. There is no telling what a person given to vice will do since they don't do what is honorable. Hitting the target of what is right takes work but there are a thousand ways to miss. A just person will hit the target that we see while there is no telling with an unjust person

We would rather everyone did what was right on their own and it is good to help each other form good habits of doing so. In a perfect world there would be no need for written rules to insure justice. It is a great feeling to do what is just without being coerced. Written laws are needed to compensate for our imperfections and produce clarity among associations.

In utility relationships sometimes we need written agreements too. These are contracts. When debt is involved, the relationship becomes even more complicated since the simple agreement of buying and selling has been preempted by someone else holding the cash. The seller is really giving their property over to the bank while the buyer is trying to buy it back. This can cause the price to become inflated since the buyer and seller are setting terms in the light of easy credit. In a society this can wreck havoc and some in the past regulated it closely with laws. It would be good to outlaw debt holders altogether so the relationship between the buyer and seller can be more realistic but we are always tempted to find a way to get what we want with less wait. The risk should always be on the seller without a third party involved so the price can be realistic.

It is easy to see the terms in a written agreement but with moral agreements it becomes more complicated. A person might perceive that the one giving credit can handle the loss so it isn't a big deal. But is wrong to become indebted to others especially against their will so a person should hold up their part of any verbal agreement too. If you know it isn't possible then have enough honor to decline the offer. We also shouldn't use the excuse that the person wasn't using it. We shouldn't assume someone would just give things away but should make sure that there is an equal if not higher benefit given to them regardless of the conditions.

But when the friendship is based in commonality of goodness there is less to worry about along these lines. We have faith in the persons character and would be apt to dismiss equal repayment because the person has been so good to us. There is still room for abuse but we don't expect a virtuous person to take advantage of us and we give them greater latitude. This is what is meant by "earning favor".