*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1843141-Do-we-know-right-from-wrong
Rated: E · Other · Philosophy · #1843141
Who can judge for others what is right or wrong
Do we know right from wrong?

Why is it that we have decided that the majority can determine what is right or wrong for every man? Did the majority endorse slavery and then later abolish it. Did the majority accept and tax alcohol? Then later prohibit alcohol and then once again after some time decide to accept and tax it again. Did the majority say put the criminal to death? Then say it is wrong and do so but then decide later to do so again and often.

If you and the generations before you have been the majority, what will you do when you are no longer? Likely you will conform and become part of the new majority. Up until the 1970s it was normal to smoke in public. People would throw their cigarettes down on the floors at department stores and smash them out with a twist of a foot. Now you would not even think of doing such a thing. One could think of hundreds of examples of what used to be right, then wrong, then maybe sometimes right again.

I wonder what we are doing today that is wrong, that will someday be right.

I wonder what we are doing today that is right, that will someday be wrong.

I wonder who is in jail today for doing wrong and will still be there later on when that wrong is right.

I wonder who will go to jail later on for doing what was always right but one day will became wrong.

Perhaps in matters of that involve the majority, then maybe the majority should rule. I am not sure though as the track record so far is very confused. However, what I am sure of is that in matters personal and private people should be their own masters.
John R. Steadham
© Copyright 2012 sailing medic (sailingmedic at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates have been granted non-exclusive rights to display this work.
Log in to Leave Feedback
Username:
Password: <Show>
Not a Member?
Signup right now, for free!
All accounts include:
*Bullet* FREE Email @Writing.Com!
*Bullet* FREE Portfolio Services!
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1843141-Do-we-know-right-from-wrong