Prompt: Right or Wrong?
What is “right” and what is “wrong”? These are questions that have plagued centuries of individual people, governments, and even entire nations. Is it a moral thing or a conscious choice that can change due to religion, politics, culture, generation, or tradition?
In my own life, I was raised to apply absolutist views to certain things, but in the end I always come to the conclusion that there is a legitimate reason for someone thinking differently about that situation. There are decisions that I make that are based solely on what I believe to be completely “right”, but I always think of how another would act in that situation. Perhaps there’s nothing wrong with it in my mind and yet another person would never even think about attempting it.
Relativist views are defined as seeing different moral issues or decisions as subject to culture or tradition, therefore it is racist to try and have rules/regulations that are imperious to all. How can you have moral codes that are necessary for everyone to follow when everyone has their own subjective views? There are people who believe that no crime should be punishable by death. I personally believe that if a person plants a bomb in a certain building and consciously decides to kill everyone in a 500 foot radius by the push of a button, he/she deserves to die. Simple as that.
This same bomber, though, could have come from a culture that prides itself on the terrorist way it deals with situations, and encourages their men and women to do their “duty” to the society no matter what is required of them; even murder.
I also strongly believe that the knowledge and technological advances that come with each new generation should be the bases for new laws and/or moral beliefs. In the early 1900’s, it was believed to be a terrible insult to associate with anyone from a different class or race. It was considered immoral. Yet one hundred years later, anyone can be the head manager of a large corporation, or marry outside of their race, or live in the biggest house in town.
I think, in some ways, being absolutist is just a narrow-minded way to not have to think for yourself. There are set rules for everything. You do not have to question anything and you live your life accordingly. If there is nothing to question and nothing to learn from investigation, how will you ever find the real truth?
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4 comments:
Pass. Showed other peoples views and sides but also stuck to their own positions.
Pass! Strong intelletual idea's and thought process of looking at veiwing right or wrong.
Pass... the title was very interesting, you put alot of thought into your blog and gave very good examples, and had very strong view points. Really good!!
Pass! very strong points on the subject and it's very well said!
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