Where do we get our idea of morality? Our perception of right and wrong? Our personal ethics that we strive to live by? Socrates said that we all have an innate ability to think and to determine right from wrong. However, just because the ability to think is innate does not necessarily mean we perceive the same definition of right and wrong across cultures and generations. Socially accepted norms of right and wrong may be clearly defined (it is not polite to throw rocks at people), or the lines may be a little blurry (common, almost cliché, examples include gay marriage and abortion).
Many people trace their standards of right and wrong through religion of some sort. But within religions (even the same religion) these standards differ on many subjects. How much is really traced through religion and trying to follow the teachings of a higher being? Family, living situations, and the individual ability to think all play significant roles.
And between all these differing sources of personal ethics, there is no wonder we have so many problems of conflict in the world. Everyone has the right and ability to think for themselves and live by their own standards. However, within this right, it has to fit in with the ethical norms and laws of the land and between different groups of people or conflicts can arise. For example, Christians generally acknowledge that murder is against church teachings and the laws of the United States happen to coincide with this belief. Murder is both wrong religiously and lawfully. Not all things line up. Gandhi and, as a result, MLK told us that it is alright to stand up to and disobey unjust laws. By answering to their personal ethical beliefs, these respected individuals went against society’s set of rules—which could be considered synonymous to society’s beliefs.
So how do we discern between just and unjust laws? It all goes back to our personal morality and basis for our own ethics. It determines how we choose to live our lives (including the laws we abide by and those we break). Once again, religion is oftentimes at the base of this.
Religious wars are abundant throughout history. They’re killing others for their differences in beliefs and standards of right and wrong. So really the concept behind doing what is right over what is wrong is the beginning of conflict. We usually aren’t friends with people who live by standards we don’t agree with. Someone who is a good student probably doesn’t spend their days with people who are meth addicts. We, as a society, are offended by things others say or do that don’t coincide with our beliefs. It is the same with countries. So maybe avoiding conflict starts with recognizing that those around us have a different view of right and wrong. If we want to able to live peacefully in a community filled with people from all different backgrounds, religions, and experiences, we need to learn to tolerate the differences. Toleration is the minimum. We really should strive for understanding. Only through understanding will we ever progress to a peaceful global community.
How are we going to get there? I wish I could tell you. Wanting to avoid conflict should be a common feature of all of our sets of values. But it isn’t. And we don’t live in a utopian world. But it’s interesting to think about the reasons behind what we do. How we deal with situations and people. It all goes back to our ethics. Interesting concept to ponder As the Clock Ticks…
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