2007-01-05 02:45:48 · 17 answers · asked by Red5 5 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Right and wrong depends on the culture involved. There are universal wrongs such as murder which is regarded as wrong across most of the world. However different cultures have different opinions on whether things are right or not. It's like some cultures don't have a problem with monogamy whereas others see it as wrong.
2007-01-05 02:49:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there. the usual concept of right and wrong that you refer to is based on popular opinion (or in an autocracy, on one persons opinion) as that was the nearest to an absolute measure, the deciding point being one of consequences - if right, then no punishment would be expected, for wrong a punishmnt would be administered. in basic societies where transgressions can have very large impacts, this was crucial. In more advanced societies like ours, where large impacts are difficult to achieve, the traditional line becomes more blurred.
If we look at Wilberforce abolishing slavery or Luther king establishin black equality, then they started out in the minority (so were wrong by definition) but won the argument and changed the perception until they became right - even though their ideas were always the same.
In maths, physics etc. there is most definitely right answers and wrong answers, so they do exist as pure concepts.
A final thought - I would contend that the rape of a child can never ever be right, so anybody who would like to say it is purely opinion will need to prove me wrong on that.
Regards, Steve.
2007-01-05 11:03:07 · answer #2 · answered by Steve J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some things are a matter of opinion.
Some things, though, are a clear matter of right and wrong, based on reason, science, and/or morality.
"Popular opinion" is, as far as I'm concerned, sometimes dangerously wrong; which is why each individual must reason out what it right or wrong for himself rather than EVER be guided by popular opinion.
2007-01-05 11:00:38 · answer #3 · answered by WhiteLilac1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most right and wrongs are similar in all cultures although as an Athiest this the most difficult thing to work out. If there is no God, then there is no right and wrong? Wrong, because morality and religion are not the same. I am not a reletivist but nor do I believe in God so this area is very difficult for me, I could do with the help....
2007-01-05 10:52:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes there is a right and wrong answers and other times it is just down to popular opinion. It depends on the question.
2007-01-05 10:47:14 · answer #5 · answered by Danru 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In science and mathematics there are a lot of right rights and right wrongs, but still there remain a lot of non-proved opinions.
In Sociology and whatever it is just common sense, what means : popular opinions.
2007-01-05 10:57:07 · answer #6 · answered by Biekske 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a right and there is a wrong, but there's also a catch:
We can't know right and wrong until we know everything about what right and what wrong.
So I guess all that leaves is popular opinion :P
2007-01-05 10:55:54 · answer #7 · answered by Simplex Spes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In math there are right and wrong answers, In social issues, conventional thinking establishes what is considered right or wrong. In 1950 it was wrong to say the word, "pregnant", for example. Now pregnant women are posing nude, Big change in the mores,
2007-01-05 10:50:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mostly popular opinion.
2007-01-05 10:47:25 · answer #9 · answered by Spiny Norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right is right, left is wrong and that's my opinion.
2007-01-05 10:47:54 · answer #10 · answered by First Ascent 4 Thistle 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋