What Defines Wrong or Right (Research Paper Sample)

What Defines Wrong or Right
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Institution
Humans can easily evaluate anything as right or wrong, however it has been observed in most cases that they try to suppress their own evaluation and analysis under their religious beliefs. Principles of a person play a basic role in determining what is wrong and what is right. An individual’s sense of right and wrong offers self-feedback for any or most of the acts done by that particular person, if the feedback is positive, the act done was right and if the feedback given by conscience is negative, the act done was wrong. To believe in something means following a specified idea without its evaluation or analysis, and without any proof to support its appropriateness. Such an idea can only be a belief of a person if it is obtained from a highly credible source, which in most religions is a Prophet sent by God or a trustworthy source, like Holy Books. There are so many religious beliefs and ethical values spread all over the world and followed by different people. These beliefs and ethical values subconsciously design the perception and culture of a group of people or a religion. A member of such group or religion would follow the procedures taught to him without raising any question regarding its aptness. There are some acts which can be clearly regarded as immoral or wrong, but some people deny this fact only because God told them that the act is right. For example, killing someone is unquestionably wrong, but in some religions, killing someone for some religious reasons is what defines wrong or right norm. People kill others for minor reasons, only because they perceive is to be the right act. Their perception is developed by religious beliefs and what God has told them. According to Josh McDowell (1994), people are conditioned by their society since their childhood.
What they see, what they hear, what they observe others do; all these factors get imprinted in their minds and when they grow up, they deny rationality and put their religious beliefs for ward instead of following logical reasons. These beliefs hinder such people from clearly understanding the logic and truth behind a religious law or to analyze rationality behind any course of action advised by the religion. John Deigh (1995) describes this as the difference between morality and ethics. Morality is something which is prima facie right or wrong, there is no question in it. A person can easily evaluate something as moral or immoral. While in ethics, something which is clearly immoral can also be regarded as ethical in some circumstances. Like, killing someone for going against religious rules if supposed to be ethical in certain religions, which is completely wrong when we consider the right for freedom of choice. Ethics are developed by the beliefs prevailing in a society; therefore it is difficult to go against ethics even if they are immoral. Therefore, i...