Right and Wrong?

Question

Whose job do you think it is to decide right from wrong...the government?...or the individual person?

Answer 1

In my personal opinion, most of us have had shaped notions of "morality" set into our minds since birth and influenced by society (religion, television, etc.)

I believe there is no such thing as right or wrong (as long as we do not invade the rights of another), only perception and nature, therefore, we humans, are more than capable of deciding for ourselves.

The government should ONLY interfere when a person or group of people infringe upon the rights of another person or group of people, such as hate crimes, murder, rape, child abuse, social or domestic violence, and so on...and only in their particular country.
In other words, the U.S. Government ONLY in North America.

Unfortunately, it has been the very government (evangelical right) imposing its religious propaganda and ideals over individual choice and lifestyle.

The dilemma lies in finding a balance between the two.
The government should have its place.
And we should stand up for ours.

Answer 2

Mwahaha! I do believe I made you think of this?

Anyway, Like I said before: The individual. The government has no right to tell us what's riht and wrong. Of course, if they didn't, we'd be in a state of anarchy. So, the question: How do individuals determine what's right and wrong for them? The answer: simple. If you feel guilt, remorse, etc. as a result of doing something, then it's wrong. But then you have another question: Then why is it that doing the right thing can cause pain? Well, to tell you the truth, when that question's brought up, it completely changes everything...showing that...well, there IS no line between right and wrong. What determines right and wrong: circumstance.

Answer 3

Great question.

When the government decides right from wrong, they have the lowest common denominator in mind. Basically, laws are aimed at people who are 'weak-minded' and uneducated and have trouble keeping themselves under control.

If everyone had self-control and discipline, there would be basically no need for laws!

Keeping that in mind, I don't feel that I personally need to respect the laws of the country. It sounds arrogant, I know, but I feel above that. After all, I'm not going to kill or rob anyone, and in the country where I live we have laws forbidding, for example, blasphemy and other silly things.

So I would rather figure out for myself right from wrong than have someone else's set of ideas thrusy upon me.

Answer 4

Individuals, of course.

A government is not a thinking creature. It is simply a collection of individuals working as a group.

Answer 5

It certainly is not the individual person. Their decision would normally be based upon their perspective only. We (collectively) have given some of that responsibility to the elected officials and some to the judicial system. We do make decisions as an individual on specific issues that are not covered by the collective.

Answer 6

Individuals. They constitute the group like governments etc. So the root is individual.

Answer 7

The individual. But the government, legal system and religions have guidelines for people to follow with punishments outlined for those who choose to do wrong. If the legal system didn't have punishments for those who commit wrong acts then it wouldn't be fair to the rest of society who is choosing right and who are victimized by wrongdoers.

Answer 8

Government has to determine what is permitted, but only the individual can determine right and wrong.

Answer 9

Is it a job? Who made the job assignment?

For most people, right and wrong are just societal conventions for behavior anyway so they may as well have the society-represented government demand that behavior.

Answer 10

individual the government just decide how much and when