How Can We Tell What Is Good Or Bad?
To tell what is good or bad, a person needs to consider what he or she considers to be
morally sound and immoral. A persons morals are taught by their parents and from the
society from which they are raised.
Society is not worried about what is good or bad, but how to obtain money and power.
Money and power can dilute the values of what people judge morally right. While the
moral way of living would be to work a normal forty hour week to earn income, the easy
and immoral way is to lie and cheat in their occupation to obtain promotions and
benefits. Aristotle said,
Every art and every "scientific investigation", as well as every action
and "purposive choice," appears to aim at some good, hence the good
has rightly been declared that which all things aim (Aristotle, 517).
Today society is not aimed at good. This society has become a "me" society. People are
thinking of "me,me,me" rather than thinking of the good of others. This society has
found it acceptable for a football superstar to be found with an illegal drug to depart
the judicial system with probation and again to play football. This is a true example of
how people today in our society live their dreams through celebrities. People idolize
immoral sport stars instead of holding in a higher regard common everyday people, who are
God fearing, hard working, and ethically moral.
While in this society it is hard to tell what is true, it is also hard when compared
with other societies. For example, some European countries have legalized the use of
mild
drugs. These countries have attributed this toward less crime. Putting the question of
right or wrong on the individual rather than, in our case, the government. In America
the majority consider legalization of drugs wrong, but has it really worked our way? Are
not alcohol and tobacco just as dangerous, causing mind altering effects, attributing to
deaths and diseases everyday? Why are not these illegal? The reason is because people
in our society hold a higher regard for the "almighty dollar" rather than the safety and
health of their fellow man! Apparently this society has a double-standard. On one hand
advertising and sending messages telling kids to "Don't Do Drugs", but on the other hand
televising, for all the world to hear, a president admitting to smoking marijuana and
hearing him laugh about it. This society expects the best out of kids, but rewards
people who take shortcuts. Showing kids it is easier to live an immoral life rather than
a moral one!
What is good or bad is a decision made by each individual. For one person it might be
that he considers marijuana an acceptable part of life, for another it might be that
abortion is immoral and against every thing that person believes. How a person decides
is his or her prerogative either influenced by his society or his upbringing. Personally
I believe our society, America, should get back to being a god-fearing society. We need
to as individuals of this society elect a government with ethics and morals instead of on
the amount an individual has of money and power. Society needs to worry about the
problems confronting them at home rather than concerning themselves with problems from
other
societies. Basically this societies government needs to show it cares, which will in
turn be seen by people and possibly practiced!
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