What is right or wrong? This is a question that has plagued humanity throughout its entire history and one that continues to be a question today. The truth is that no one can tell you what morality is as every person develops their own sense of morality over time, which is ever changing. Due to this the only way we can determine what morality truly is, is by taking the collective decision of society. What society says is what morality becomes. Today things have become so much more complicated when it comes to what is right and what is wrong. If you travel back five hundred years to the Roman Empire, then a person who kills or steals would, without any doubt, be considered a bad person and be subject to punishment. However, now society’s idea of what morality is, is more than just the actions of the person. Now rather than immediately condemning these trespassers of the law as sinners, we try and understand their reasoning’s for their crimes. Why did that man kill or steal from another human? Was he protecting his family? Or was he desperate just to feel something, anything? Sure the action of killing or stealing in its self is actually immoral, but if he was protecting himself or his family was that not a moral act? The difference between the two train of thoughts, however, is a very thin line to traverse. That is why for all intents and purposes we have created a body of law to remind us of right and wrong. In turn this same body of power is controlled by society, hence the idea that it is society that decides what is right and what is wrong, which is morality. However, as stated before morality is ever changing and everyone has their own idea of what the true meaning is. For the past two centuries psychologist have studied vigorously to see why there is a difference on the subject of morality. Many argue that it is the environment that influences our ideas, and many others argue that it may actually be genetics. With so many other theories in existence, each with proof of being right, it is impossible to say what causes the change in peoples moral compass. Every country has their own set of morals today because each society differs vastly. Travel back five hundred years to the Roman Empire or travel five hundred years into the future to the golden city of New York, and in each place you will find a new set of morals developed by that times society. Maybe one day mankind will find the true meaning of what is right and wrong, but for now the only morals we have are the ones we set for ourselves.
I like your point about how the idea of right and wrong has changed so much over the centuries, especially as it pertains to law. It is true that in the current day and age we often try to rationalize why a person committed a crime, where as five hundred years ago the person simply would have been condemned for their actions. I have two questions about this point, when does this attempt to understand the criminals point of view become immoral in the eyes of the victims, and how far can this attempt to understand be taken before it begins to interfere with the justice system?
ReplyDeleteGreat post Cody! I had some questions at first but your examples answered them. Particularly when you wrote about the man stealing for his own life because it makes you feel remorse and understand. Its not right that society shoes us the way they do and you should be able to have second chances. I can tell you thought about this a lot because I re-read it to understand it's complexity and it shows a good view on life.
ReplyDeleteCody, great job! Morality has a great complexity to it and it is wrong to discourage those moral values different from your own. What was once immoral is no longer the same in today's world. The world, with the differences of moral and immoral beliefs, are changing every day.
ReplyDeleteI really like this post! My favorite part is when you say; "The truth is that no one can tell you what morality is as every person develops their own sense of morality over time, which is ever changing." I believe this to be true because as we grow our morals grow. The historical references caused me to look at morality in many different ways rather than just looking at morality today. Do you think any countries have similar morals?
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