I often feel like doing something terribly immoral, but almost always do the "right thing". Is it my impulse or my actions that make me who I really am?
2007-11-15 17:00:54 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Randy, you are who you are. You are a truly wonderful person and have overcome so much. I think we all want to give in to the dark side sometimes but we surpress that urge b/c we truly want to be good.
I think that your actions make you who you are, your impulses make you human.
2007-11-16 02:11:04 · answer #1 · answered by laneydoll 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great question! I often contemplate the same thing myself. I personally believe that morals are only in the eye of the beholder. Thus, if you do what you perceive as the right thing, you are a moral person, even if you had the desire to do the wrong thing, or if the thing you did might be considered immoral to others or society. If you didn't do the wrong thing, than you haven't had a negative impact on the world, and more likely have had a positive one, so what would make you immoral or a bad person? In my personal opinion, if you strive to do what you firmly believe is right, then any so-called immoral desires are moot. Also, we are all human. Those who believe that we should be something greater than living, breathing beings who make mistakes, and have odd desires are in my opinion beating a dead horse. Thats something that is never going to happen. So accept your humanity, and accept that if you do what you think is right, your actions are all the testimony needed to your morality.
2007-11-15 17:13:11 · answer #2 · answered by Maggie Pie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"What you always do is who you really are; So character is not a trait, but a habit." If you feel bad in doing good, then you're not really good. If you feel good in doing bad, then you're worse. Never blame your action on impulse. Actions are motivated by thoughts. Good thoughts will always motivate you to doing good.
Having done something wrong doesn't necessarily mean you are immoral. It only means you are not perfect as anyone else. But to realize your mistake, and having the courage to make amends, and getting the effort to possibly correct it... makes you exceptionally of moral value.
2007-11-15 18:59:40 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's right and what's wrong? Different people see things differently. A more specific question would be: "How can I know if I'm a moral man in the eyes of ________?" or "Am I evil that does good to the minds of _____?"
I personally believe in Ying Yang and the philosophy that it is impossible to please everyone. In all evil there is good. In all good there is evil. One action you do seems right to one, but wrong to the other.
As to your first statement... why do you think you end up doing "the right thing" at the end? What's the difference between doing "immoral" and "right" things?
2007-11-15 17:24:19 · answer #4 · answered by ZA 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Impulse or action? What is the motive behind your action? Is it fear of some sort? Fear of an action being discovered? Fear of ridicule? Fear of loss of respect/confidence/love? Fear of some bad feelings you might get, i.e. conscience hurts you?
I don't think we can completely stop our impulses but what is stopping your impulse? Neither fear nor hope of reward are moral motives.
We are moral when our reason tells us that we owe a moral obligation to a higher moral authority than ourselves. That can only be God. Otherwise, it's all feelings and what moral obligation do we owe to feelings?
2007-11-15 22:30:51 · answer #5 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reading "The Path of Christ or Antichrist," Mark Prophet, "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil," O. M. Aivanhov, and "The Great Divorce," C. S. Lewis, would help.
kind regards,
j.
2007-11-15 19:13:26 · answer #6 · answered by j153e 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i guess the answer is based on how much time you spend "acting"..... as long as you know in your heart what the right thing to do is,,youll do the right thing,,its having morals to start with that makes one a good person
2007-11-15 17:46:01 · answer #7 · answered by stash1340 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on loads of things...do you sleep well at night...do you hurt other people...i think it's the actions that count. the good guy on one shoulder the devil on the other...that kind of thing. only you know and only you can make you what you want you to be.
2007-11-15 17:11:55 · answer #8 · answered by blooming and flying 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
so you are shopping for a label for yourself...how about "self important child"
2007-11-15 17:38:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋