how to determine what is right and wrong? - Page 2

Originally posted by: Buffie

Everyone has his/her own perspective..What is right and what is wrong is very subjective..One cannot generalize....But I DO believe is that,when one believes in something and when one makes a choice,one must have the guts and gumption to stand by it...Sweeping one's deeds under the carpet plainly means that one hasnt done the right thing 😊

There are many a times a person needs to lie to her spouse or her family or her children just so as to protect them. "You will sweep many things under the carpet"(in your words) just as not to cause upheaval in your family life . But does not mean you have done the "wrong " thing.

I know several married women will agree with me here. I am ofcourse not speaking of secret abortions, secret affairs or something that will amount to impacting the current family life.

Life isn't always black and white.......................you need to follow there are grey areas too.




As for whats right or wrong - Its completely a persons moral perception. Its there upbringing, the society they were exposed too, people they came to contact with and their perception etc etc.

One example comes to my mind is, many families frown upon male - female friendship of thier children and will be furious to know that there child is even mixing with some one of the opposite sex. I recall there were some friends(opposite sex) in school if you called their house you were first given the third degree in questioning and then a lecture.
And my family and some of my other friends and their familes took a boy- girl friendship as exteremly normal and healthy and even encouraged it.
This did not mean that incase the child who had a conservative set of parents was doing the "wrong" thing if she/ he did have a friend of the opposite sex and decided to lie about their pure "platonic" relationship to their parents.

Originally posted by: T.

Very true! 👏 Kind of reminds me of the Circle of Life (see, now I'm into TLK refs. too!😆)

Wow wow wow😆 Wonders happening!! My TLK's influence on Tanaz😆... a round of applause for me😆

Anyways this time i wasn't refering to TLK at all.. even i didn't think abt that😲 (see, i didn't think abt TLK!!!....Roles reversed!!!😆) But the Circle of Life's reference is sure true.. we can link it becoz it is reality..😃

Originally posted by: T.

Very true! 👏 Kind of reminds me of the Circle of Life (see, now I'm into TLK refs. too!😆)

MNMS ji is always correct!!!👏

Most of the time our heart tells us what is right and what is wrong... If we do something wrong and dont rectify it... our heart would continuously jab our guilty consicious mind... 😳

Originally posted by: T.

A concept of Universal right and wrong is described by the theory of Utilitarianism, which is "the greatest good for the greatest number of people". Or it may be the case that "all fools may be on one side in a majority".

I think everything develops due to practical necessity. It is only later that the morality tag is attached to something making it right or wrong.

For instance: the caste system developed as a means for division of labour. Unfortunately, humans being humans, try to cling on to permanence in a word where everything is temporary (Yes, I'm quoting the Buddha). Rigidity appeared in the caste system in the form of hereditary. People could not change occupations; it was considered wrong.

Now, we are saying that untouchability, etc. is a great evil.

So, universal morality changes with time. We can see that by the implementation of same-sex marriage rights in a country or two.

Personal morality is a sense of right and wrong a person has. It can also be a sense of right and wrong which has been ingrained in one's head from childhood. That person will look for people who share his/her outlook. He/She will possibly elect or become a political leader who preaches that brand of morality.

People who agree, will vote for his/her rule and thats how universal morality is implemented.

Similar cases can be observed among religious followings. Each religion has been formed by standards applicable to the century of its development. A leader is nothing without followers. Universal morality is non-existant without a majority agreement.

Morals are individualistic, that is true. But, in my personal opinion, what is RIGHT does not harm anyone.

Veri nicely put...😊. Just that the bold statement is still recursive if you havent defined "right"😊.. The point here is "right" doesnt have anything to do with good or bad...For eg, a war may be just but ends up with so much of collateral damage which is not "good".

But if you take most cultural interpretations you will see some commonality which makes us endorse the possiblity of univerally acceptable right and wrong.. thus more or less absolute... which for eg.. is a good reason against gay marriages... since every culture defines marriage bet' opposite sexes... but if you submit to generality of interpretation u run the risk of being branded the modern troglodite..😆.. then u cant say anything about the extent of wrongness..