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Emil Johansson

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Do you define what is "right" by what society deems ok, by what suits you, or by a higher cause?

Do you define it by whats "best" and not just whats best for you?

And do you find evil acceptable if the perpetrator didnt know what they did was wrong?

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  • greg dahlen 20+

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    Dec 17 2012: A lot of times when I want to know what is the right thing in a situation, I'll go to the library and look at law books to find out if any laws cover the situation.

  • Emil Johansson

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    Dec 17 2012: I think there is an important lesson u can learn. That good and bad is the smae thing. for instance if u shoot someone that could be bad but the same action could also be good if your a soldier or a cop. the same action different depening on the context so good and bad is essential the same thing.
    When people do bad things or things considered not allowed. Others have tendencies of pushin them away. We "brand" them criminals and we blame them for badness. But really they are people just like us. During world war 2 germans voted for nazis yet many blame hitler instead of gemrany. They blame one man for persuading an entire country thats absurd. but germans today are not evil. that dousnt mean they couldnt do bad things.
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    Roy Bourque 20+

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    Dec 16 2012: The answer to your first question is that I define it by a higher cause.

    As far as society goes, there are many allowances that have long term consequences, either to you, or to those who became victims unawares. Righteousness is often not the criteria, so I don't trust it.

    As to what suits me, there are desires that I strive to overcome because I see myself as part of a collective whole. To benefit at the expense of another is to accept that others have the right to benefit at my expense. I will not cross that line.

    I do not find evil acceptable if the perpetrator didn't know it was wrong. But I am willing to forgive and make allowances if such was the case, so long as the perpetrator is willing to take responsibility for learning what is good.

    As far as what is right, we could debate that issue all day. I pray to God for the answer to those questions.
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    Krisztián Pintér 200+

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    TED Translator
    Dec 13 2012: society's definition is called "popular". what suits me is my "interest". we have the word "right" for a reason. it is quite possible that society is wrong. it is also quite possible that i'm selfish or evil. these definitions certainly not satisfactory. whether the definition must come from something "higher", i don't know. but surely from something else.

  • Random Chance 30+

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    Dec 13 2012: Once I realized that all I had ever been taught were lies,
    I decided I would listen to myself.

    The world society is so messed up, mentally ill or outright insane, that they don't know what is right anymore.
    In fact, the rules of right and wrong, are wrong, proving that most who try and live by them are insane, because they don't know the difference between right and wrong.

    If right, whatever that might be, is right, then it already is a higher cause.
    Because we as an animal, don't love, then love to me, is also a higher cause.
    Cause, if I don't really know what the right thing is to do,
    then I can do "a" or "the" loving thing, and it will all work out.

    What ever one believes in, comes down to whether or not they are going to trust it.
    If they are going to trust it, then it makes no sense to worry about it.

    Worrying shows one doesn't really trust it, and it makes no sense to believe in something that one ultimately doesn't trust, absolutely, completely and with total abandon.

    One must come to know who they are though, before they can really choose what they believe.
    For instance, take Christians.
    Christianity is based upon forgiveness. Something they apparently highly dislike doing or meting out.
    This is clear to me because the tomb of Jesus was empty, meaning his body, or He, for humanity, was freed from death.
    Otherwise, his body would have been found in the cave, or whatever it was, when the witnesses for humanity showed up.
    Thus, all that humans could possibly do from then on, has already been forgiven. Doesn't matter what it is.
    This must be the reason that Christians love to kill today just as they have throughout history.
    Because all has already been forgiven.

    What might be evil however, is that Christians, along with some other religions, want to destroy the human spirit.
    Now that, I find to be evil.
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    natasha nikulina 50+

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    Dec 12 2012: Actually, there is no clear distinctions between those three, but we should opt to the last mentioned to figure it out.
    The dark side of this approach is that one may not live long enough to see the evidence :)

    *Edited

    The bright side is that those who have courage to choose the 'higher cause' don't need evidence , if their ' higher cause' is high enough.

  • Rob Cork

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    Dec 8 2012: You and I can have an opinion and on and on we go , like a merryground getting really nowhere. Not until we find truth, ah , then we have something to build on

  • John Smith 30+

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    Dec 8 2012: "Do you define what is "right" by what society deems ok, by what suits you, or by a higher cause?"

    What's right and what's wrong is determined by ethics (which is based on logic and science), which do not need societal approval, such as basic human rights, however sometimes determining what's legal and what's not depends on societal approval because ethics cannot give you an answer, the (il)legality abortion is an example of this, lastly there are mixed cases: ethical answers that depend on previous societal choices, an example is the (il)legality of marijuana because you cannot make an ethical case against legalizing marijuana in a society that has previously chosen to legalize alcohol and tobacco, while you can in a society that has already outlawed those other drugs as well.
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    Peter Law 30+

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    Dec 8 2012: Our creator made us with a conscience, we will not go far wrong if we listen to it. If we need further clarification, we have been supplied with a full book on the subject. To go with fickle human opinion just lands us in the kind of mess we have at present.

    :-)
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Dec 7 2012: I am guided by the maker's word; human societies, with all the imperfections, instabilities and sometimes the manipulations of selfish leaders can not be trusted to guide.
    It is human to make mistakes; it is Godly to accept our maker's discipline and to change when we realize our wrong.
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    Leanna Walters

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    Dec 7 2012: I think the answer to this question depends on where you're asking it and to whom. There are so many factors, such as one's own culture, society, religion, etc. that influence the way a person will answer this question. I think the most important factor in determining what is right lies within us. If society encourages something that in your opinion, is immoral, it will not sit right with you. I think there are one of two ways that a person reacts to this: They either question it and do nothing about it (conform to society or simply remain quiet) or they actively try to change it. It's kind of like the concept of witnessing a crime take place, but not reporting it. That makes you just as much of a criminal as the person that committed the crime! So, to answer your question, I suppose it's a mix of factors that influence our own morality. While society's actions influence our own behaviors, if these actions do not sit well within us, we are less likely to go along with them. And of course there's the concept of a higher cause that influences much of our own morality. I believe that once people realize that we are all "one", we are all part of this "higher cause" that it influences the way that we treat other people. If we are all "one", we should treat everyone with the same respect that we treat ourselves. Although, of course, there are the people who can't even respect themselves, which I'm sure has a huge influence on the way they treat others, as well.
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    Maaher Sayeed 10+

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    Dec 7 2012: I believe that your conscience acts like a moral compass. But an individual is clouded by the norms, and external influences. We are constantly evolving as we keep learning. We are constantly battling shifting paradigms hence we tend to lean towards what we believe is right based on our core idealogies of morals and values. And what we have been told or taought eventually fades aways as we mature and we favor what we have learned and expereinced.

    With regards to the second part, it depends on how evil the act or intention. Like I said above we would expect every individual to fall back on to balanced moral behavior and conduct. But evil acts in ignorace have to face its consequences as well. There is no place for blatant and deliberate ignorance in our fast paced world where the wisdom sit in every palm in the form of a mobile browser.
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    Robert Winner 50+

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    Dec 7 2012: These are normally decided by a culture. What we consider to be a "wrong" may be acceptable in another culture. As stated below I may find it disagreeable but if it is acceptable then I must abide ... it does not mean I have to like it.

    As an example: Many people find the right to bear arms offensive. However it is legal and acceptable under the laws and the existing culture.

    As to the second part of the question: Within each culture we all understand the difference between what is acceptable and unacceptable. I do not accept ignorance as an excuse in almost all cases. However, if I were to visit your culture and it was taboo to touch the top of the head and I patted a childs head as I would do in my culture then I have offended others unknowingly. I would hope that someone would inform me so I could make amends and learn from my mistakes.

    When in doubt the "Golden Rule" is always a good measure.

    All the best. Bob.
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    edward long 100+

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    Dec 7 2012: Good=Right. Evil=Wrong. Societies are human constructs. Humans are mostly vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts are darkened, so they should be the last source of defining right and wrong. The Rulemaker I follow is no human. I define right and wrong by what His Word says is right and wrong. Regarding your second question, anyone can make a mistake. Unintentional acts cannot rightly be called evil because there was no intent to do wrong.
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    Lawren Jones 10+

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    Dec 6 2012: My standard is civil rights. Anything that impinges upon the rights of another person is wrong. If no one's rights are violated, it may be offensive to me personally, but I must allow it.

  • Simon Says

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    Dec 6 2012: Each and every person has a different idea of right. Many are taught the same definition but, in crunch times, it comes down to a person's conscience. By doing what suits you, it many feel you are doing what is right but an onlooker may feel that what you are doing is in your own interests, and is not their definition of right. Right is found from our upbringing in education, social aspects, and our parents/guardians. It cannot be defined, simply labelled. A common example is politicians. They feel their policies are 'right' but obviously their opponents may feel otherwise. By saying 'right is what is best', again, is hard to decide upon. What is best? It too is down to your conscience and your own mindset. Very rarely is something in black and white, there seems to be a lot of hazy gray in there.
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