If you could really only understand, then would you have no reason to judge?

Answer 1

I'm convinced that judgement IS lack of understanding. We judge when we do not fully understand the reasons, causes, motivations, and conditions that lead to a certain action or choice. When there is a gap in our understanding -- which there almost always is -- or a hole where we have no explanation, we fill that gap or hole with a judgement. A judgement is essentially saying, "there is something uncaused in the action that is inherently good or bad". That sounds a bit complicated, but what I am trying to say is that we assume there is something just good or bad in the person whom we are judging that is responsible for their actions, and that there is no reason for that something which is good or bad, it just is good or bad. In otherwords, we don't UNDERSTAND what reasons lead to the particular behavior, because to understand is to always see the causes for things. Judgement is saying, there is something in the person that has no cause, and saying that there is something that has no cause is the same as saying we don't understand it. So judgement is how the human mind relates to things it perceives to have no cause.

We always become less judgemental when we understand the causes. If a man steals from another man, we judge that man to be bad. But once we understand that the man stole in order to provide for his starving children, we judge him less harshly. That is a pretty silly example, but the point is that understanding the causes lessen judgement, because judgement is relating to things which are perceived to have no cause.

This is why, I think, one of the most effective ways of becoming less judgemental is to always assume that there are causes for everything. One reason I don't accept the idea of Free Will, apart from the logical reasons, is because the idea causes people to become more judgemental. Free Will is the idea that the will in an individual has no cause, which is to say we don't understand why it does what it does, and thus will always judge behavior if we hold to this notion. Because, if we believe in free will, then no matter what a person does, we will always attribute the final reason for their actions to an uncaused choice. And you can't relate to anything uncaused, except to judge it.

So if we understood everything, then we would see the causes for everything, and there would be no basis for judging.

Answer 2

I once read a short story about a man who goes to heaven, and once there, he is judged by other people, and not by God. God is called as the ultimate witness, but does not actually get to pass judgment. When the main character asks why, God tells him that because he is omnipotent and knows not only what people have done but their motivation for their actions, he would always find them innocent.

I am not sure I agree with that idea. Some people are just not good people. They will screw their friends and neighbors to get ahead. They believe they deserve to be richer, more powerful, happier, etc. than others. You could argue that if they felt the pain they imposed on others, they would not do what they did, but I don't believe that.

So, no, 'understanding' the reason does not always justify an action. There are some actions which are not justifiable, and some reasons are just excuses.

Answer 3

You have a reason to judge once you understand.

Answer 4

There are only two reasons an individual ought to judge:
1. It was asked of her;
2. It would be harmful to someone else otherwise.

Answer 5

I believe the judging brings thought to understand, the unfortunate part is that we hear the judgment, If it were not so loud for all to hear and take offense from ,then we could have the moment to understand why it is we define others and their actions as so. but to take offense at another outspoken thought is to place ones self in to an affliction, a thought should learn to move aside when it sees an oncoming word such as that. this is my learned opinion.

Answer 6

Judging others is something we are admonished not to do according to the holy scriptures of the bible and we don't have to look to hard to see the reasons for this. Biasness, facts not disclosed, comparing our self to others, lies, and egotism are just some of the things that can cloud our judgment. The Bible's answer to rightful judgment is found at Ecclesiastes 12:14

"For the [true] God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad."

Answer 7

I don't think you would have a reason to judge if you only understood that person's feelings. Everyone interprets things differently and I think this should be excepted.

Answer 8

It's only when someone really understands that they have the capasity or the reason required to judge fairly.

Answer 9

I think this truly what people should understand. Just be cause you are American or British or Italian it doesn't mean the people in Hawaii or Iraq or Morocco are any different from us or they are wrong and we are right.

Answer 10

judge they self not outhers for you well never truly understand another