without thinking about what is right and worng.
2006-12-23 09:23:52 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
No, but to answer, gotta say what right and wrong is. Long answer here, but if right and wrong are a mystery...
Until about 1950ish mankind did not actually know what right and wrong, good or bad was. That's crazy! Different countries and cultures have different interpretations in their laws. For example, one society's laws say it's okay to beat children and another doesn't. So what really is good and bad?
There are 8 things people live and survive through. 1. The self & the body. 2. Family & making a family yourself. 3. Groups (i.e. your job, circle of friends, country, etc.). 4. Mankind. 5. All life (plants, animals, etc.) 6. The environment. 7. Spirituality. 8. The infinite (some call this God).
For each decision in life, good = that which helps the survival for the most in 1-8 and bad = that which hurts survival for the most in 1-8.
For example, you steal money from work. This is bad. Why? #1 is good because you now have more money. #2 is hurt because you stole (given that your family is sane & doesn't think stealing is ethical). #3 is hurt because your work (which is a group) suffers because it got robbed. #4 is hurt because man hurting man hurts mankind. #5 may seem like it doesn't matter but what about the nice plants at work that might not get their special plant food because money is low (this hurts #1 because now the plant can't produce oxygen for you to breath because it dies). #6 probably won't be effected by this, neither good nor bad, but a (long) point could be made to show this does hurt the environment. #7 really suffers - it's hard to be spiritual when you've stolen - that's antispiritual. #8 is obviously hurt.
Back to your question. The part about "without thinking about what is right and wrong" - if you live like this you're screwed. It will come back to haunt you. Unethical people, criminals, rapists, liers and so on are not happy people. Those who live cleanly, honestly and ethicaly actually have the best lives - this is scientific fact but hard to observe because so few do. (But without the actual definition of good and bad, it's hard to live ethically because you don't know!)
The definition of good and bad work for the principles part of the question. No need to go further. Good and bad are important principles anyway.
The juicy part is "or do what's on your best interest?" Check out 1 - 8. To do what's in YOUR best interest = help #1 and screw 2 - 8. BAD!!! People who live for themselves only are flat out pricks! Period!!! A major reason this planet is in the poor state it's in is because there's so much of that going around. So many mainly only give a sh*t about themselves (and maybe #2) - and I give you planet earth: war, famine, criminality, pain & suffering, economic slavery.
With every decision in your life, choose that which helps the most for #s 1-8. Imagine if the entire planet did.
2006-12-23 21:13:22 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Living to my principles is in my best interest. I never lose sleep at night or regret my situation if I always act in accordance with my principles. I want nothing in life I can't get ethically.
If there is something I can't get because of my principles, it has the same reality as moon dust to me. Though it's out there, it simply isn't available to me, and I move on with no regrets.
2006-12-23 12:02:35 · answer #2 · answered by freebird 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Only machines can live by a set of rules or principles.
A person may have a set of principles, but they are only guidelines. No one should ever expect to behave like a machine.
2006-12-23 09:31:07 · answer #3 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I try to live according to my principles.
2006-12-23 11:54:27 · answer #4 · answered by Freedspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Principles, always. It drives people crazy.
#1 Do no harm.
2006-12-23 11:35:57 · answer #5 · answered by The Gadfly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I try to live my best for God.My principles are based on the B-I-B-L-E. and the two commandments Jesus gave us. First ) Love God with all your heart,soul,body,and mind.
2 ) Love my neighbor as myself. And believe me that's the hardest one to do. Neighbors can get on your nerves.
2006-12-23 09:29:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always principles.....one day you can relfect back and answer to your conscience and say I was principled... you can also set examples this way. i speak from my experience... go by your principles and you will be well appreciated.. i have seen the fruits although i am just 25
2006-12-23 09:33:26 · answer #7 · answered by narayan 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
best to live by god's will as living for our best interest is selfish, living by our own principals doesn't mean we are living right, as everyone has a different belief system, and a different set of morals.
2006-12-23 14:21:11 · answer #8 · answered by jude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing what is for the greatest good of all will always be what is truly in your best interest.
2006-12-23 09:38:42 · answer #9 · answered by flyingrosetb 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i live according to my intuitions, and thus my best interests. unfortunately, it is not financially profitable, according to culturally accepted standards, but it is oh so fulfilling ;-) as far as all evidence suggests, my actions are far from evil. ;-)
2006-12-23 10:47:12 · answer #10 · answered by drakke1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋