Perceptions of Morality: What is REALLY Right or Wrong?
What if I told you that everything you did was wrong? Well, C.S. Lewis would probably say that the differences between right and wrong are truly up to the Law of Nature, while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would most likely bring up the point that only God could judge what is right and wrong. The concept of “right” vs. “wrong” is one that is debated a great deal in literature, particularly Lewis’ Mere Christianity and Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. The different perceptions of from where man’s morality stems and what truly defines right and wrong are controlled by a higher power than man.
C.S. Lewis begins to address this debate with comparing the Law of Nature to a stone’s actions. Lewis states that a stone will not “suddenly [remember] that it is under orders to fall to the ground”, but that this is up to the Law of Nature and how it acts (Lewis 17). Lewis also compares this to trees, as there cannot truly be a ‘bad’ or ‘good’ tree, for this depends on individual opinion. Lewis states, “What we, from our point of view, call a ‘bad’ tree is obeying the law of its nature just as much as a ‘good’ one” (17). Lewis makes this point so that the reader may understand that the Law of Nature express what nature is meant to do, regardless if one finds it right or wrong.
When Lewis applies this theory to human behavior, he brings up the interesting point that there may be something else at play. Rather than dealing with the Law of Nature, humans are influenced more by what Lewis calls the Law of Decent Behavior. Lewis claims that there is a difference as to “how men behave… [and] how they ought to behave” (Lewis 18). Clearly everyone has a different perception of what is righ...
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... skin color proving to be natural. This combines both points that Lewis and Dr. King make. I believe that the whole concept of right and wrong exists to teach man to make mistakes in order to find out what is truly right and wrong.
Man must experiment and discover for himself what is truly right. If there is controversy about an issue, such as race in the case of Dr. King, there are always conflicting arguments where fingers are pointed and nothing is done about the subject at hand. The argument reaches an impasse, and the results are inconclusive. The way to solving an argument is to keep talking about the issue and learn from the mistakes made. Eventually, issue will be resolved by a ruling of right or wrong. Personally, I believe that there is a plan for man in this world where every controversy or argument shows us how to differentiate between right and wrong.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Impasse in Race Relations is a speech that confronts the audience of the past, present, and future aspects of race relations. The speech addressed by King refers to an impasse as a situation in which there is no escapes or progresses. In the speech, King reveals the different feelings and reasoning’s as to what Negroes have experienced and dealt with. He also shares and interprets various violent and non-violent approaches to racial problems. In this essay, I will present my thoughts and opinions based on King’s ideas introduced in his speech.
Dr. King is a man who is overflowing with nothing but creditability. Not once did he point his finger as a child and blame the Caucasian men for forcing the African-American to attempt to survive a horrific ordeal of history. He encouraged his brothers and sisters of color not to protest with bitter and physical violence but to engage hands and peacefully demand to be treated equally. He encouraged his colored brothers and sisters to go back to where they are from, not with despair in their hearts, but hope that one day there will be freedom within reach.
Now that it’s been concluded that racial equality has not been reached the question must be asked of what steps society should take to fight for it. Recently violent race riots have broken out all over cities in America, like the one in Charlottesville, Virginia. White supremacists and anti-racist protesters broke out into fist fights. These riots are exactly what Martin Luther King Jr advocated against. He believed that the solution to improving race relations was to love and respect all people not fight them in the streets.
What is right and wrong? This question that has been asked throughout history all over the world that perplexes society even today. Many philosophers have attempted to answer this question, but it is hard to make out what the right answer would be or even if it can be answered. Who would be able to tell? That’s why we as individuals must make up our own minds on what is right or wrong. We can only hope to find our own moral path. Though it is up to us we can take a look at philosophers of the past to be a guiding hand at times.
Martin Luther King saw that race was an issue and believed bringing cultures together brought to light a solution of uniting groups together under one dominant culture of being separated by social barriers.
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the moral principles and values that govern our behavior as human beings. It is important in the human experience that we are able to grasp the idea of our own ethical code in order to become the most sensible human beings. But in that process, can ethics be taught to us? Or later in a person’s life, can he or she teach ethics the way they learned it? It is a unique and challenging concept because it is difficult to attempt to answer that question objectively because everybody has his or her own sense of morality. And at the same time, another person could have a completely different set of morals. Depending on the state of the person’s life and how they have morally developed vary from one human
Human beings have always inherently known the difference between good and evil. Natural law is universal and known to everyone. Natural laws have helped mankind refine this knowledge into morals or rules that ensured survival for humans (Natural). Eternal law is what keeps the universe in order. An example of eternal law is the law of gravity or relativity. Divine law on the other hand, is that which comes from the will of God and is closely associated with both natural and eternal law.
Dr. King exemplifies his credibility to advocate the ending of segregation laws. He gives an example of how society should realize that there is no need for violence by comparing both Socrates’ and his techniques. Dr. King uses Socrates’s philosophy to justify how much help the African American community needs to abolish the injustice of racism because the community itself cannot fight for freedom alone, the more individuals support them, the more likely the community can overcome segregation. Using psychological tension to help individuals rise from the myths, Dr. King uses an example of Socrates’ philosophy to help society become united. Dr. King states, “Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths” (497). Dr. King uses Socrates because he is a historical figure; individuals saw Socrates as a threat to society, but he later became an inspiration to others. In addition, the white community saw Dr. King as a threat to society because he wants to change the segregation laws, but he became a hero to all the communities. Dr. King uses the words “rise from the bondage of myths” to compare how Socrates helped individuals overcome certain myths, just as Dr. King is helping African Americans prevail over the injustice of segregation. T...
On one end it truly saddens me that anyone would have to go through discrimination of any kind, and on the other end it is hard to watch the people of this country become angry enough to start riots in their own home town over such a thing. Something important that I learned about Dr. King was that he in fact believed violence and rebellion was not the answer. He endured so much for the people of his race which shows that he beyond doubt thought that change would eventually come for America. From being publicly ridiculed to what I feel being un-justly incarcerated well over a handful of times, I truly believe Mr. King knew his movement would one day change the ways of the American people
1. Explain what Lewis means by the “Law of Nature” or the “Law of Human Nature.”
J.S. Mill’s principle of utility is explained as actions are right as they tend to gain happiness, and wrong as they tend to reduce happiness. Mill defines happiness as, “pleasure and the absence of happiness is pain.” He argues that pleasure can differ in quality and quantity, and that more complex pleasures are ranked higher. Mills also places people’s achievements of goals, such as a virtuous living, should be counted as part of their happiness. When Mill states that the principle of utility is the “First Principle” of morality he is ranking the principle of utility highest because that in order to know what the boundaries of morality are, it is necessary to know how actions should be accounted. The first principle dictates the rest of the principles of morality because it illuminates what the right thing to do is, and that is to maximize happiness. Happiness is the goal of morality, and this is why Mill believes that morality must have a first principle.
Ethical theories are a way of finding solutions to ethical dilemmas using moral reasoning or moral character. The overall classification of ethical theories involves finding a resolution to ethical problems that are not necessarily answered by laws or principles already in place but that achieve justice and allow for individual rights. There are many different ethical theories and each takes a different approach as to the process in which they find a resolution. Ethical actions are those that increase prosperity, but ethics in business is not only focused on actions, it can also involve consequences of actions and a person’s own moral character.
The relationship between law and morality has been argued over by legal theorists for centuries. The debate is constantly be readdressed with new cases raising important moral and legal questions. This essay will explain the nature of law and morality and how they are linked.
Moral ethics is the belief that all human beings are born to know right from wrong. We come into this world as good people, but the temptations and challenges in life influence our mind set to as it will. Every person on Earth chooses if they’re to follow through with their life of good or go down the path of bad. “A person’s moral ethics” (unknown.)
Although traditionally applied to business ethics, the ethical decision-making process is of vital importance in law enforcement as well. Research recognizes several ethical decision-making models and factors believed to influence the process of decision-making. A history of ethical decision-making, including various theories, models and influential factors demonstrates the importance of the ethical decision-making process and how it can be applied to law enforcement.