What makes something right or wrong?

Question

Is killing someone right or wrong and who are you to say its right or wrong?

Answer 1

i think its just what society believes to be moral values

Answer 2

I understand where you are coming from but I guess we made laws and norms to suit what was best for the most of mankind. So while 10 people may think it's great to kill people the 100 others probably don't think so. Plus, I think we also define right and wrong on the basis of what we have observed animals doing and someone sometime decided that survival of the fittest in terms of killing others the way animals do, wasn't the best thing to do.

I also think I heard somewhere about how rights and wrongs originated with the religions in the world and then were taken into the legal system....sorry don't know the source though.

Answer 3

Western society is grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition, which says that you shall not murder. Since society has accepted this as a fundamental rule for behavior, it is perceived as right to all who grow up in this society. After some time, these ideas have become a part of this society and the original Judeo-Christian grounding has weakened its hold as secular, modern society has emerged.

I think humans inherently are social beings and thus naturally try to promote the best interest of society, so unless one is a sociopath all people can behave morally. I think there was a philosopher who believed the same thing... blanking on the name, but I think it's John Stuart Mill

Answer 4

most people will tell you "killing is wrong" because of god or morality or something of the sort. I think it is situational and dependent on evil already perpetrated by the person being killed...maybe i am wrong but i think some people should die because of the way they have lived and the amount of damage they have done to others...i also think there are situations where you have no choice...i don't think any of us can choose for another what is right or wrong for them...we can only come up with our own values and morals...throughout life we are challenged to make decisions which will form our life and whatever we choose we have to ultimately live with alone...btw i have personally not killed anyone...but thought about it several times...

Answer 5

No one can tell you what is right or wrong. But since society dictates what is right or wrong then thats exactly what the words mean. It's not right to kill because society has laws against it. The only way it could be is if the majority thought it was right. Majority is what depicts if something is right or wrong.

Answer 6

It's not me who's saying it ! It's a kind of social deal; we ( human community ) decided that killing someone is an offense of law, of law which had been accepted by human society ! Humans are social beings and as such, we must have some kind of law, providing that society can function...If there weren't any law, everyone would be allowed to kill anyone ! Now, that would in consequence mean no-one is safe...The consequence would certainly be a complete decline of entire human race !

Answer 7

I'm always right - those who disagree with me are always wrong. Simple as that. As for your question, if killing something will help better me then it's acceptable - even if that thing is a human. (ie embryonic stem cells researched today may help me with cancer 50 years from now).

It's nature - survival of the fittest.

Answer 8

Its wrong we don't have the right to say when someones life should end no matter what they've done.

Answer 9

killing someone is wrong because u are taking someone's life. imagine it if someone takes ur life and u cant get it back anymore.
who am i??
its not me who says its right or wrong...
the society's perception

Answer 10

I believe that it is always wrong. I am an important person to me.