Everywhere around us people allow self-interest to outweigh ethical behaviour. People lie - they lie to get jobs, they lie to get help, they lie to steal social wlefare, they lie to seduce other people, they lie on their tax returns, they lie to their parents, spouses and their children, they lie about incomplete homework (and often times parents support this), they lie about being late for work. All of these lies revolve around self-interest and selfishness, not to mention a total lack of personal responsibility. No answers involving religion will be considered, because some of the worst liars actually claim to believe in God. The reasons behind this have to be something within Western Civilisation that cause so many people to live such false lives.
2006-11-11 20:07:37 · 11 answers · asked by Gillian 4 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Thank you to vinny_the_hack for some very good grass roots examples. While no-one is disputing that there have always been unethical people throughout history, they were in the minority - my contention is that now it is becoming the norm. Are we ready to believe that it is human nature to be intrinsically evil?
2006-11-11 20:42:07 · update #1
You are absolutely right, but hey man. Don't over-look the good stuff! It's easy to only see the crummy things.
We are also making leaps and bounds in many areas of science, philosophy, and awareness. It all depends on where you are looking and what you are looking for. Also, the people you hang with.
2006-11-11 21:31:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, people have not always been like this. When I was a kid, newspaper boxes had a tray for you to put your money in. Yes, a tray. No slot for it to disappear into. And the newspapers were not locked behind a door. They just lied there. Still, few people ever took a free paper. And few stole the money. Try that today and see what happens.
Also, back when milk was delievered to your door, people would leave the empties and sometimes money for the milkman on their porches. Rarely was the money stolen.
The world has changed quite a bit for those of us who are um, er, uh, over 30. ;)
Unfortunately, I don't have the answers. The world seems to be getting more and more materialistic. And in such a world, the more deceitful you are, the better your chances of doing well.
2006-11-11 20:26:51 · answer #2 · answered by vinny_the_hack 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's not just western civilization...it's human nature. Through intelligence we developed the art of avoidance. If you want to avoid trouble, you will lie and squirm your way out of it. It's just human nature.
I think the real problem is, when did it become ok? It's the whole "slippery slope" argument. When a loved one creates something (a painting, film, whatever) you may think it's ugly, but to not hurt their feelings you lie and say you like it. Is that an ok lie? I think we found some lies ok, and it kind of grew.
and with your god notion...just to put it out there immediately, I'm not a foillower of organized religion. But as far as christianity goes, I think god expects us to lie and "sin" and realizes it's a part of human nature. Why else would there be the idea of repenting and having your sins "washed away"?
The best you can hope to do is not lie yourself, and hope others see it as a good attribute and follow in turn. Lead by example. :)
2006-11-11 20:21:16 · answer #3 · answered by xalkalinex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is the cause of so much lying you ask? Necessity.
Intense competition or an excuse for an action not sanctioned. If you absolutely must get that job to feed your family then the question becomes a moot point.
We are all responsible for our own actions and we all pay the price for everybody's mistakes. Just ask the families of those soldiers who gave their life in the current Middle Eastern conflict.
2006-11-14 13:39:28 · answer #4 · answered by Imogen Sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your question assumes that there was a time when people had integrity in western civilization.
This time never existed. The world constantly looks like it is on the verge of collapse, but is so disorganized it can never get around to it...
2006-11-11 20:17:46 · answer #5 · answered by Wise1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the most interesting issue is why people think there is a demise of personal integrity. Study some history. People have always been like this, there is no major shift in integrity.
2006-11-11 20:15:58 · answer #6 · answered by RjKardo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WTF, Ralph?!? faith got here about lengthy formerly god or faith. we necessary faith in ourselves in our communities, in our species and lots different functional issues. even as the international were given too complicated our ancestors paniced, very like we favor to those days, and replaced into hoping for devine intervention, yet not something befell, except what were set in action lengthy formerly anybody grew to grow to be conscious, besides. even as has any civilasation ran easily, heavily, in heritage, which empire or lifestyle had it ordinary? you received't locate one, because God has not something to do with it. Civilasations have come and lengthy gone around the realm, maximum pre-courting recorded heritage, and easily one small section has arise with the idea of the particular monotheistic deity you communicate over with being controller of all. Civilisations contained in the far east and west had no understanding of this god until eventually it replaced into compelled upon them with harsh yet 'loving' ultimatums and they were fairly powerful. (show C - for China.) you imagine God replaced into backing them? (they don't imagine so - and in gentle of the monetary droop, the chinese have not had it as undesirable as many contained in the ((Christian)) west.) yet then, you also imagine he switched allegiances, as speedy because it takes Christianity to spawn a clean denomination, over and yet again even as he were given bored of one? extremely? people have continually had faith, non-rligious and atheist people trust, (that faith will be abolished and individuals received't die/kill for what they don't completely understand. Wipe the slate sparkling, haven't any adjustments and artwork mutually. IS IT too a lot to ask!?!) faith comes from everybody, it has purely been lost.
2016-11-29 01:39:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People are disconnected from their life source... God. They look for power in other things
2006-11-11 20:21:40 · answer #8 · answered by Holly 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Competition. Communism and fascism produces competitors to defeat or destroy. Derived from economic competition, they seek control of all they survey.
2006-11-11 22:55:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
that is an easy question, greed and political corruption
2006-11-11 21:06:49 · answer #10 · answered by King Midas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋