A question of morality: when intentions matter
Mount Holyoke student Chiara Hodge ’29 was shortlisted for the John Locke Institute’s Global Essay Prize for an argument exploring whether good actions can be morally wrong when motivated by bad intentions.
Can doing the right thing ever be wrong? For Chiara Hodge ’29, a philosophy and film media theater double major at Mount Holyoke College, the question led to international recognition and a trip to London.
Hodge was shortlisted in the philosophy category of the John Locke Institute’s 2026 Global Essay Prize for her response to the question, “Is it ever wrong to do the right thing for the wrong reasons?” Her essay earned her an invitation to the Institute’s academic conference and awards ceremony in London in October.
Hodge has been interested in questions of morality and ethics since childhood, particularly how intentions shape the moral value of people's actions. For her essay, she argued that even an action with a positive outcome can be morally wrong if the intention behind it is wrong.
Drawing on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, Hodge examined the relationship between intentions and actions, arguing that the reasons behind a decision are essential to understanding its moral value. She also considered a competing philosophical perspective, consequentialism, which evaluates actions according to their outcomes.
To test her argument, Hodge challenged herself to consider opposing viewpoints and identify potential weaknesses in her reasoning.
The greatest challenge, she said, was translating her thoughts into a clear, structured argument.
“When I sit with a philosophical problem I often struggle to give my opinion in clear and organized words, though I may understand it perfectly inside my own head,” Hodge said.
Her coursework at Mount Holyoke helped prepare her for that challenge. In courses including Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics and Philosophy and Literature, Hodge explored questions about moral responsibility and the relationship between intention and consequence.
Two Mount Holyoke philosophy faculty members also played important roles in supporting her work. Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Philosophy James Harold served as Hodge’s academic referee for the competition and encouraged her throughout the process. Visiting Instructor in Philosophy Kyoungmin (Kay) Cho, who taught Hodge’s Ethics course, took time over the summer to discuss her essay and its central argument. Hodge credits those conversations, along with the questions she explored in their courses, with helping her develop her thinking about moral responsibility.
Hodge’s connection to the John Locke Institute began well before her time at Mount Holyoke. She first attended its conference and awards ceremony at age 14, also in the philosophy category. That experience deepened her interest in the field and ultimately influenced her decision to study philosophy in college.
Returning to London this October gave Hodge another opportunity to engage with young scholars who share her enthusiasm for philosophical debate.
“Being able to take part in the academic conference and awards ceremony was thrilling,” Hodge said. “I got to meet so many intelligent and kind young people who I was able to engage with in deep and complex conversations, having fun all the while.”
Beyond her studies in philosophy and film, media and theater, Hodge is also active in Mount Holyoke’s English department. An avid reader and writer, she enjoys poetry and fiction and is currently working on her first novel.
“I love philosophy, I love writing, and I am so thankful for the John Locke essay competition,” she said.
