Right and Wrong Options

[elaboratedream]

Lets start this out by saying that I don't want this to turn into a debate about religion. We have FAR too many of those.


As a society, we have a detailed code of what is right and what is wrong. Laws are put in place to try to discourage people from doing something that is "wrong."

But where do these concepts of right and wrong come from? Don't say that it comes from some sort of higher power. First, that's all bs, but more importantly, these concepts of right and wrong have been around far longer than any modern religions.

What makes something right? More importantly, what makes something wrong?

discuss.

[Spirited Away]

Premises do not follow conclusions, or rather, I'm just not clear on these.

1) Someone wants to live and you kill them is wrong, therefore murder is wrong.

Let's say in a certaint society, there is a killer/murderer of countless children. This killer/murderer doesn't want to die, but when he is caught, he is sent to death row and is eletrocuted soon after. Is this society guilty of murdering the murderer?

2) Theft is wrong. Someone chose to own the item, you took it away

If I own a grenade and show it off to my neighbors, who gets fussy and calls the cops on me and take it away... did the cops steal from me? I chose to own it though...

3) Exposure to second hand smoke causes cancer. Your choice is affecting someone.

4) Inforcing laws against something that isn't wrong is wrong. Someone chose to do w/e and you didn't let them.

Then you're saying that foreclosure laws (though unfair at times), jaywalking laws, or laws against diving boards around pools with shallow waters are wrong?

That was sick. I will have a nightmare.

[elaboratedream]

Let's say in a certaint society, there is a killer/murderer of countless children. This killer/murderer doesn't want to die, but when he is caught, he is sent to death row and is eletrocuted soon after. Is this society guilty of murdering the murderer?

If the person did something that is wrong, they know the consequences. They are making a complex choice. It doesn't just stop with a choice to kill someone or not to kill someone. It continues to a choice to kill someone and then go to jail and possibly be killed for the crime. Thus, although they may change their mind on the decision, the decision has been made and the punishment is part of the choice.

If I own a grenade and show it off to my neighbors, who gets fussy and calls the cops on me and take it away... did the cops steal from me? I chose to own it though...

Yes, the cops stole it from you. Their actions were wrong, and should not be tolerated.

3) Exposure to second hand smoke causes cancer. Your choice is affecting someone.

No, it's not. The person made a choice to be around you. Unless of course you have them tied up and you're blowing smoke in their face (which would be wrong), its your own fault for chosing to be near them.

Then you're saying that foreclosure laws (though unfair at times), jaywalking laws, or laws against diving boards around pools with shallow waters are wrong?

For the most part, yes. I also think that anti-drug laws, anti-prostitution laws, and drinking age laws are wrong.

That was sick. I will have a nightmare

What was sick?