Is it only from man-made laws (which are as fallible as we are) or by votes (popularity contests) which might be skewed, or is there some supernatural source, or is there just plain no such thing as right and wrong and we're only fooling ourselves to think so...?
As the Marquis de Sade said, "Whatever IS, is right." (Of course, he's not what I like to think of as a sound moral guide.... )
And, as a corolary, how are materialists able to arrive at a concept of right and wrong (let alone identify individual acts as such...?)
If all we are is matter and energy, how can anything that we do be wrong?
2006-11-05 08:56:11 · 11 answers · asked by cdf-rom 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Bat Man, I must disagree. You have misquoted your source; it is the apostle Paul who claimed to be all things to all men, and that was in the context of winning them to Christ. By contrast, God is consistently described as being "holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah) "in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John) and ultimate way, truth and life. (John) Although it may be very convenient from our standpoint to claim that God contains or originated evil, it is inconsistent and inaccurate to do so.
2006-11-08 04:39:45 · update #1
There is only ONE truth and this was created by the supernatural force we call God. God gave humans the freedom to choose His will or not to. By aligning ourselves with God and walking in his path we are walking in the spirit and are good. By good I mean we are favored by God. If we choose to follow the other path and walk against God's thinking we are walking in the flesh and against God's word. This would be evil and not favored by God.
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (1)
2006-11-05 09:15:47 · answer #1 · answered by voices_blur 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What is accepted by the majority of society is what is considered right or wrong.
100 years ago, a woman wearing a mini skirt would have been considered of low morals and unacceptable. Today, the less clothes the better.
It all depends on popular (majority) views.
2006-11-05 09:06:35 · answer #2 · answered by Canadian Ken 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all based on influence; sometimes it's intuition, a feeling we have, or our basic instincts. A child can be raised in a terrible family who enjoys committing wrong things. This child can grow up believing that what is wrong to most is actually right. A child can be raised in a perfectly good and normal family, and can grow up believing that what is right to some is actually wrong. It is all based on influence. The world around you defines your beliefs, and your beliefs define who you are, and your actions, and your thoughts.
2006-11-05 13:06:26 · answer #3 · answered by Display Name 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What makes 'good' right and 'evil' wrong?
Webster's dictionary. or any English dictionary. that is all.
God said "I am all things to all people, the beginning and the end, the alpha and omega." You can't be all things if you leave out even one. So God is evil. But he has to be evil to be good. One can not exist without the other.
2006-11-05 15:14:25 · answer #4 · answered by Bat Man 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We stipulate right and wrong. Do you think 'natural rights' have any basis? No. It's a body of assumptions we just up and make for practical purposes.
If someone challenges the code, we bury them.
It's a very simple system.
2006-11-05 09:15:57 · answer #5 · answered by -.- 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best example i can think of is the brazilian (traditionally south american) definition of the devil
traditionally the devil was seen there as a 'sense' and is thought to be in every mans mind, evil comes from within men and women
just because it is doesnt mean you have to do it, that is very selfish
or in another sense we have openned pandoras box
2006-11-05 09:29:58 · answer #6 · answered by tony h 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you slash your skin correctly, and you die....that is wrong!
If whatever is done, destroys man, animals, plants and so forth, it is wrong!
If whatever is done helps man, animals, plants and so forth, it is right....even if no one ever finds out....
....so go plant a tree, or a flowering plant and see how it makes people smile.......You can add to man or subtract from man....and you can argue that into eternity on whether you can give it an english label....called a word...right or wrong.
2006-11-05 09:06:36 · answer #7 · answered by May I help You? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good/right is what suits you in your expectations or habits, and evil/wrong is what doesn't. So what matters is the observer, the point of view, and so on...
2006-11-05 09:20:26 · answer #8 · answered by ideal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is not matter if is right for God or Wrong for Evil or wharever you want to know.................
What is matter is that you have to be sure on what side are you and define good and bad, right or wrong for your understanding.
That what matter for you.
OK
Good luck
2006-11-05 10:13:51 · answer #9 · answered by arqui 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what you do that is benificial to yourself and fellow creatures on this planet is good....what you do that harms you and them is evil...so go figure what is right or wrong.
2006-11-05 09:16:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋