Often times I reflect on what can be considered “good”, and I keep coming to the same conclusion that it’s hard to define what it might be. So I began to think that a part of it has to do with the methods of execution with which deeds are done. When I hear the word “good” my mind conjures up people that are genuine, pure, and with honorable intentions. But then I reflected and realized that there can be people that believe they fit that description, and that they are causing no harm to anyone. They feel passionately about their plan of action and truly assume that they are doing people a favor. I look at the news and it stuns me how many murders there have been, but recognize that some of the killers are under the impression that they are doing it “for the greater good”. They have managed to convinced themselves that they are not committing a crime, but rather are making the world a better place. These can be described as people with “good intentions”, because that is what they believe themselves to be. One cannot get an inside look into another person’s mind so we can’t accurately characterize the person they are dependent on what they did. Yes, based on our own morals or values we can see these events as cruel, unjust, and evil. But the reality is not everyone will have the same perspective, and the person who did something atrocious can be completely convinced that they are heroes. On a somewhat less intense scale, I find the hispanic culture to be interesting and perplexing at times.The parents have their own “style” of determining how to teach and advise their children. My parents can be quite close minded and firm in their own beliefs. The manner in which they want me to learn can be excessive. They would prefer for me to be more like them and I’m simply not. They don’t realize that their methods of wanting to help me are not the right means. I do not begrudge them though because I have taken it as a learning experience. There are similarities and differences between different cultures and I understand that in their hearts and minds, they believe to have “good” intentions. Even if the approach that is taken could be improved. This is why I add that a person should be compassionate, caring, and understanding. But couldn’t even that be argued?
To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school…it is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically. – Henry David Thoreau
Dina, have you ever heard the saying "that road to hell is paved with good intentions"? I think that it has the same idea as what you are saying. I think that most people don't do things knowing that it is going to be bad, but the world is not black and white. There are times where you have to choose the lesser of two evils and even then you are still doing something bad.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you bringing up the topic of the recent news around the world because it is personally hard to see the good in the world when we are surrounded by death and suffering. However, I do think that a lot of people who do "bad" things are less aware of give less value to the life of the individual and that makes them bad to me. I think that many murderers and extremists see the greater good and not the real people affected.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you took a personal stance on this issue. I really agree with your stance that goodness is truly relative, but I really like the way that you used the term "good intentions," instead. But this raises the question of how to punish or judge people with good intentions gone wrong. Are intentions or actions more powerful or meaningful? Regardless, your post is intriguing.
ReplyDeleteLike Olivia, I really like how you brought this to such a personal meaning. Seeing that you have struggled with what you are writing about makes your point all the much stronger. Because different cultures have such different and often conflicting ideas, people often come to a crossroads with their beliefs and it causes strife between cultures. But in reality we are all searching for the same thing, the ideal life of happiness
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