Seeing right and wrong
I watched K Pax the other day...pretty good movie.
One quote that I remember though was at a point when asked, "What do you do when someone does something wrong?", Crot says, "It doesn't matter, everyone knows right from wrong".
It goes on alot further than that but it makes a good point that in reality all right and wrong are the things that we as individuals see as right and wrong. And if a large group of us happen to agree then we make our opinions into rules.
Right and wrong are collaborative opinions, not these god granted imperatives that theay are made to seem at times. If the rules never changed and right and wrong were static and unchangeable then we as a civilization would still be back in the stone age.
How often do we share a belief and assume it is the way it is? Odds are all the time, from everything small to the most important parts of our lives. How often do you concede that another's beliefs are at least possible, or try to see why they believe as they do from a standpoint that isn't just another extension of your beliefs? Again, we may all want to say, "Yeah, I have empathy and love listening to others" but anyone that thinks they are 100% impartial is either lying, or very disconnected from their own thoughts.
So what's right? How should we conduct ourselves and our beliefs with respect to others...what of that is right? I think no matter what happens there will always be conflict and that to try and please everyone, including yourself, just isn't possible. Conflict keeps us going and gives us a reason to fight for things, even if we do happen to be wrong. Movies and groups sometimes like to portray a futuristic utopia where everyone gets along and is happy. I personally think that sort of notion is impossible---or at least impossible for a society that is to grow further as a whole.
So here is the million dollar question for any of you still reading this: How do you share your beliefs with others? When people think differently what do you say? How often do you react in a way that you regretted later? And lastly how often do you react in a way that didn't seem right, but you were convinced it was just the way it had to be.
Just some thoughts to ponder over.
One quote that I remember though was at a point when asked, "What do you do when someone does something wrong?", Crot says, "It doesn't matter, everyone knows right from wrong".
It goes on alot further than that but it makes a good point that in reality all right and wrong are the things that we as individuals see as right and wrong. And if a large group of us happen to agree then we make our opinions into rules.
Right and wrong are collaborative opinions, not these god granted imperatives that theay are made to seem at times. If the rules never changed and right and wrong were static and unchangeable then we as a civilization would still be back in the stone age.
How often do we share a belief and assume it is the way it is? Odds are all the time, from everything small to the most important parts of our lives. How often do you concede that another's beliefs are at least possible, or try to see why they believe as they do from a standpoint that isn't just another extension of your beliefs? Again, we may all want to say, "Yeah, I have empathy and love listening to others" but anyone that thinks they are 100% impartial is either lying, or very disconnected from their own thoughts.
So what's right? How should we conduct ourselves and our beliefs with respect to others...what of that is right? I think no matter what happens there will always be conflict and that to try and please everyone, including yourself, just isn't possible. Conflict keeps us going and gives us a reason to fight for things, even if we do happen to be wrong. Movies and groups sometimes like to portray a futuristic utopia where everyone gets along and is happy. I personally think that sort of notion is impossible---or at least impossible for a society that is to grow further as a whole.
So here is the million dollar question for any of you still reading this: How do you share your beliefs with others? When people think differently what do you say? How often do you react in a way that you regretted later? And lastly how often do you react in a way that didn't seem right, but you were convinced it was just the way it had to be.
Just some thoughts to ponder over.