When people argue ethics or morality, they often try to prove some actions "evil" or "bad," while asserting other actions are "good." (For example, Mark Foley's text messages are "bad." Jimmy Carter's efforts supporting Democracy are "good.")
Doesn't this distance us from the actual results of the action and promote black-or-white thinking?
Wouldn't we have a more intelligent conversation if we said an action was "Helpful" or "Harmful," and then were able to articulate what caused us to say so?
2006-10-08 15:59:15 · 9 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Everything is relative ....what might be good or helpful for you might be evil or bad for some other.....it depends on the situation and the culture of the people involved
2006-10-08 16:13:31 · answer #1 · answered by pdrfer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good and evil or helpful and harmful still reflect a person's morals. To the mouse, a cat is easily seen as harmful if not even evil. On the other side, to the cat owner, the killing of the mouse can be a helpful and good thing. It is more a matter of perspective than anything else. A thunderstorm can be bad, but then it could be good, but in the end it just is. To me personally, it is more a matter of intent and end result that matters the most.
2006-10-08 23:18:13 · answer #2 · answered by Moonsilk 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think we'd all be a lot happier if we realized that it's all good. Even bad stuff usually has some kind of positive benefit in the end, even if it is only the fact that we learn from it. There are no coincidences, everything happens for a reason.
Namaste,
Gwen
2006-10-08 23:36:54 · answer #3 · answered by gwennethmorgan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mark foley's text messages were harmful to the pages who received them. mark foley's text messages were helpful to democratic chances in novemeber.
You mean like that?
You're onto something, but you're not there yet.
2006-10-08 23:03:23 · answer #4 · answered by cassandra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry I don't have a better answer, but I totally agree with you.
People should take responsibility for their actions & try not
to blame it on some outside force.
2006-10-08 23:02:31 · answer #5 · answered by Calee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what good and bad mean. Good = helpful and evil = harmful. What do you think good and evil mean?
2006-10-08 23:02:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
helpful for what, harmful for whom? if I enjoy it, it would be allowed, it would help me. No, the end cannot justify the means....would be to easy.
2006-10-08 23:03:13 · answer #7 · answered by tiger_the_prince 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Playing with semantics.
2006-10-08 23:02:00 · answer #8 · answered by Tree of Jesse 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
doesn't that mean the same thing?
2006-10-08 23:02:55 · answer #9 · answered by owner4nothing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋