2006-07-14 07:15:12 · 13 answers · asked by hokmanzone 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
There is the parable of the "Horse That Ran Away."
One day a Chinese farmer told his neighbor, "My horse ran away."
"Most terrible," the neighbor replied. "Now is the time of plowing and planting. with no horse your family will starve." The farmer replied, "Good or bad is not for us to say."
The next day, the farmer's horse returned leading a pack of wild stallions. Telling the neighbor, the neighbor said, "How wonderful. Sell some, breed the others. You wiil be rich!" The farmer replied, "Good or bad is not for us to say."
The farmer's son set out to break one of the horses and was thrown, shattering a bone in his thigh. "How terrible," said the neighbor. "Now he will be crippled and may never be able to work the farm he inherits from you." And of course, the farmer replied, "Good or bad is not for us to say."
The next day, the Mongol hoarde swept through. They were conscripting all the younge men to fight in wars not of their own concern. But the farmer's son was spared because he could not walk.
Good and bad are the definitions of an individual human. Why are some babies born with their brains outside their craniums, only to suffer a few moments after birth and then die? I do not know. I am not the master planner.
2006-07-14 08:08:34 · answer #1 · answered by photonic_beam 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I definitely believe so. It depends on an individual's motivation. For example, let's say someone is dying of cancer. A surgeon has to remove the cancerous part of the body. However, during the surgery, the knife slips and he ends up killing the person. That is not a bad act, because the intention of the surgeon was pure. On the other hand, if a someone attacked a person on the street and killed him by stabbing him with a knife, that would be a bad action, because the motivation was impure.
What reason do I have to believe this? When I perform a bad act (that is motivated by greed, anger, etc) I ultimately suffer. By committing the act, I imprison my mind so that it is a slave to the anger that motivated me. But when I perform an act that is pure, such as volunteering my time to help others who are less fortunate, I get joy out of it.
If you want to experience these laws for yourself, I recommend trying Vipassana meditation: http://www.dhamma.org.
2006-07-14 16:05:42 · answer #2 · answered by Kate F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thinkthat ultimately, good and bad are arbitrary terms... for instance, look at what's going on in the middle east right now. Both sides will swear up and down that they are acting justly. No one wants to believe they are acting unjustly... or if they do, they feel that the ends will justify the means.
Personally, I like to live by the golden rule... Treatr Others As I would Like To Be Treated. Of course, this breaks down if the person has committed a crime and deserves punishment...
Good question!!
2006-07-14 15:15:03 · answer #3 · answered by hyperhealer3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way an act can be good or bad is by measure of the will. If a good act is committed with good intentions, then it can only be good but if a moral act is committed with selfish or bad intentions, then it is an immoral act. The true measure of morals is in the truth of the will to itself. The will can only desire the betterment of itself, in nature. When a Man acts selfishly, he is acting against the will and therefore, immorally.
2006-07-14 14:23:31 · answer #4 · answered by PUtuba7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“In sober truth, nearly all the things which men are hanged or imprisoned for doing to one another are nature’s everyday performances. Killing, the most criminal act recognized by human laws, nature does once to every being that lives, and in a large proportion of cases after protracted tortures such as only the greatest monsters whom we read of ever purposely inflicted on their living fellow creatures.” John Stuart Mill [Utility of Religion]
2006-07-14 14:24:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To the degree in which that action tends to promote fulfillment, well-being, and enduring personal joy, in other words eudaimonia.
2006-07-14 15:19:11 · answer #6 · answered by James P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by it is called the code of ethics science of nature by Hammurabi!
2006-07-14 14:22:54 · answer #7 · answered by J D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
google: natural law--could be helpful
2006-07-14 14:20:22 · answer #8 · answered by drakke1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe we can know. But then, I don't really think anything is inherently good or bad, it all depends on how you use it.
2006-07-14 14:19:29 · answer #9 · answered by Cyn90 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know in my heart that it's wrong to post the same question twice.
2006-07-14 14:21:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋