What is right and what is wrong?

Answer 1

The answer is in the question.

Answer 2

This depends on the question. Wisdom frequently lies in asking the correct question, but few of us spend enough time looking for it! As a general rule outside mathematics, what is deemed right or wrong usually depends on self interest, or some kind of unconsidered social catechism (which may or may not have a reality base). In utilitarian practice one might say no decision is entirely wrong if you can live with the consequences - or learn from them. I suggest the question is more likely to be the distinction between "good" and "bad". When my daughter, aged four, asked me that question nearly 50 years ago, the best answer I could suggest was, and remains, that what enhances life most widely is good; and what diminishes life is bad. Life is the capacity to experience, and to grow through change. For humans that entails the capacity for reflection. So what enhances life is not merely material wellbeing (which in excess can diminish it through greed), but critically what extends one's awareness and critical thought. So a "good", or "right" life attends to both - for one's self and others'. For me, that is the reality base of all morality, and laws against murder, theft, etc. It doesn't require supernatural intervention - just thought and restraint. Good luck.

Answer 3

For you individually it's what you think it should be depending on your immediate circumstance. Another way of saying as others have that it's relative to what you believe is right or wrong.

In a collective body "right" would be what is good for the whole group. Of course "wrong" by default would be what is bad for the entire group.

Answer 4

oooooooh!!!!!!!!! Nasty big question!!!! 'Right' and 'wrong' depend a lot on what you know or believe to be right or wrong. That assumption is based on your worldly knowledge, of course. So! Back to the old wisdom of Confucius:

To know that you know what you know, and that you do not know what you do not know - that is true knowledge.

And you need true knowledge to know what is right and what is wrong.

As I think I have a reasonable guess at what I do know, and accept there is a lot I do not know, I am in no position to tell anyone what is right and what is wrong!

Answer 5

My guide to what is right and what is wrong is my conscience. If I know in my heart that I should or shouldn't do something then that is knowing right from wrong.

Answer 6

technically, it is a relative term and depends on who you ask. However, society has developed a general acceptance of basic right and wrong. Of course, it is a little more complicated than that...i.e. is the war in Iraq right...depends on who you ask.

Answer 7

"Right" is an action that has positive repercussions in the immediate future or the long run. "Wrong" is the opposite. Of course, that's just what I think; I've been wrong before.

Wait a minute...

Answer 8

I answered this question before.
Repeating........
Whatever gives a profit, is productive, but is not harmful, not destructive, is right. The opposite of the above is wrong.

Answer 9

Loving yourself, others & the planet is right. When you love, you will take care of them, respect them & protect them from harm.

Hating yourself, others & the planet is wrong. When you hate or are indifferent, you have no respect for life (yours or anyone elses) & you are destructive, harming yourself, others or the environment. All crimes against persons & property fall here. You wouldn't abuse yourself with addictions to drugs & alcohol if you love yourself. You wouldn't lie to, cheat on, steal from, hurt or kill your fellow humans if you loved them. You wouldn't abuse, exploit, pollute & harm your planet & its creatures if you loved it. You wouldn't be negligent & uncaring if you respected them.

In a nutshell, I think all rights & wrongs fall under those two categories. Love is right. Hate/apathy/lack of love or concern is wrong.

Answer 10

Right is kindness without vengeance and vanity. Wrong is anything else. Wrong isn't always horrible, but it isn't right.

Answer 11

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/pr/prconten.htm

§ 4 The territory of right is in general the spiritual, and its origin is the will.

Me: The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.