Is there such a thing as right or wrong?

badabing106

Or is that just a social construct?

dusty207

You're right.

Sonics2k

Of course there bloody well is.

LirW

Don't come up with that BS when we just talked about teens blowing up a kitten, social construct me arse.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Not so much a social construct. In ethics we learn that there is no absolute, nor objective, right and wrong. But individuals and, particularly groups, usually come to a consensus on ideas of right and wrong. Some take a religious slant with 'sins' and 'graces'; other ideals become civil or criminal law. The concept of right or wrong ultimately comes from us being a creature that is self aware.

Assuming of course that by right and wrong, you mean good and bad.

badabing106

LirW wrote: »

Don't come up with that BS when we just talked about teens blowing up a kitten, social construct me arse.

I didn't see that thread. I was thinking about the Spanish situation. Is there a right and a wrong side

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

badabing106 wrote: »

I didn't see that thread. I was thinking about the Spanish situation. Is there a right and a wrong side

That's a different discussion altogether. The Spanish situation is not a matter of plain old right or wrong.

Army_of_One

LirW wrote: »

Don't come up with that BS when we just talked about teens blowing up a kitten, social construct me arse.

OP hasn't posted on that thread....

Charmeleon

badabing106 wrote: »

Or is that just a social construct?

I’ve read about an experiment with very young babies, not yet able to talk. They were shown a set of puppet shows where one doll was trying to climb a slope and another doll either pushed them back down or tried to help them up. After the show the babies were given the dolls to play with and they much preferred the ‘helper’ doll. So while some moral values are culturally specific, we all know a ****er when we see one.

Charmeleon

Princess Cold Pipe wrote: »

Not so much a social construct. In ethics we learn that there is no absolute, nor objective, right and wrong. But individuals and, particularly groups, usually come to a consensus on ideas of right and wrong. Some take a religious slant with 'sins' and 'graces'; other ideals become civil or criminal law. The concept of right or wrong ultimately comes from us being a creature that is self aware.

Assuming of course that by right and wrong, you me and good and bad.

Consider the post above, social judgements are natural and unlearned. Animals that can’t even recognise themselves and their own actions in a mirror have a preference on who they socialise with and who is avoided.
Some even protest if a situation is just unfair rather than ‘wrong’.

server down

Human societies can justify any atrocity and proclaim it good. I’m dubious about us having underlying moral sensibilities.

biko

I might not be right...


but I'm not wrong!

Esel

Left is wrong.

Stacksofwacks

Right and wrong, like good and evil, is a simplistic way of looking at the world. it ignores the grey areas. Of course there are some things which are absolutely wrong, like rape and murder, then again we have generations of political leaders telling their citizens to go out and murder the evil people from the other country in the name of good. It's a matter of perspective

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Charmeleon wrote: »

Consider the post above, social judgements are natural and unlearned. Animals that can’t even recognise themselves and their own actions in a mirror have a preference on who they socialise with and who is avoided.
Some even protest if a situation is just unfair rather than ‘wrong’.

I studied animal behaviour for decades and their innate sense does not employ notions of right or wrong. Behaviour and preferences centre around survival, status, reward, procreation etc.- perhaps ultimately ours does too. Much as I'd like to think it is otherwise, animals do not employ concepts or constructs of right and wrong, in the sense of good and bad, just or unjust.

Cee-Jay-Cee

It’s a bit like manners, it’s something that we are taught but don’t question. Most people have a fairly good idea on what is good and what is bad according to our upbringing, culture etc etc

Charmeleon

Princess Cold Pipe wrote: »

I studied animal behaviour for decades and their innate sense does not employ notions of right or wrong. Behaviour and preferences centre around survival, status, reward, procreation etc.- perhaps ultimately ours does too. Much as I'd like to think it is otherwise, animals do not employ concepts or constructs of right and wrong, in the sense of good and bad, just or unjust.

That’s my point, in answer to the original question. You don’t need constructs to judge right or wrong. Babies know basic fundemental right and wrong when they see it. Animals know what is the right or wrong way to show deference to a superior, you often see chimps protesting to a higher status chimp if another chimp has committed an offense against them. No need for constructs, just an innate sense that some social actions are appropriate and others should be condemned.

gozunda

badabing106 wrote: »

Or is that just a social construct?

Are you looking for ideas for your essay? :pac:

Rumpy Pumpy

Your man, Kant, made a stab at trying to understand this.

Vic_08

server down wrote: »

Human societies can justify any atrocity and proclaim it good. I’m dubious about us having underlying moral sensibilities.

The fact that atrocities are almost always accompanied by lying and deceiving outsiders about what was done suggests that those people know very well that they have done wrong however much they try to convince themselves they are justified.

Colser

Gut instinct tells us when we're doing right or wrong imo.

RainMakerToo

B.A._Baracus

What's right and wrong changes person to person. Also it depends if there is any personal gain from things. Someone could say stealing is wrong. Yet same person could have stole from someone else. That was 'different' tho somehow. They would justify it so it was not that bad. Someone else stealing tho? Scum accordingly.

Ahh, people are as*holes. You can't set your moral compass by other people.