Do you know what good behaviour is, do you know what is bad? Like I, you may have intuitions as to what constitutes this but like me, you are probably wrong. There really is no such thing as good and bad if we look from the universal/natural view. There is possible/impossible and since the impossible is impossible, it is a non-starter for universal consideration.

However, from a societal standpoint, there are such things as good and bad as there are sets of social rules that dictate what these things are but, the system is far from perfect so, it is always changing. Hopefully, it is changing for the better.

When the rules are made, not every aspect is considered and at times, many are actively ignored. Once the rule is acted upon, one could say that they are acting acceptably but does this make it true? Nope. For example, slavery required a whole range of active ignorances (many continue today) in order to be able to create laws that would oppress and harm many, many people. The caste system in India does the same to a large degree.

What is bad though? Well, one might be born into an environment that actively causes harm to others to benefit oneself and may think nothing of it but, once one discovers the harm being done, one now has ethical questions. It need not be against a person, it could be toward the environment.

If one sees the harm that they do and still chooses to act that way, I would consider that bad behaviour. Ignorance is only an excuse that will get you so far and once the information (or even the possibility) that actions are harmful, one must take a step back and consider changing behaviours otherwise one is knowingly causing harm. Would you consider someone who actively causes harm ill-mannered?

Now, this is the problem we all face as often, there are 'questions' due to the claims of harm and various lobby groups can throw doubt into the mix. What this does is create options to choose from and many people will choose the options that benefit them the most by choosing the option that minimizes the appearance of the harm they cause.

Think about climate change where people argue over whether it is man-made or natural, although it doesn't matter. Climate change affects us all and we should be doing what we can to combat it, not arguing why we should be allowed to continue with the same behaviours or not. In my opinion, those who are arguing for staying the same are behaving badly. Funnily enough, those who don't want to change are the ones who are benefiting the most from not changing. What a surprise.

And, this is the crux of the matter isn't it? If one acts in self interest at another's expense knowingly, does that make them bad? The issue is that they can still work within the legal and social framework.

Think about smoking and nicotine. Even though every doctor on earth will testify to its harm and the very, very, very, strong correlation to cancers, the tobacco lobbying and tax incomes mean that they are not only still able to be sold, in developing countries they can be heavily advertised. It is almost unanimous and undisputed that it causes cancer, are the tobacco companies behaving badly considering they are knowingly advertising to minors and bribing officials?

Do you have to justify your actions, do you have to say 'well, the system allows it'? Have you considered that even if the system allows it, it doesn't mean that the behaviours are good. Once upon a time some systems allowed men to rape and beat their wives. Good behaviour? Oh, that still happens in some places today. How do you feel about that ladies? well, the law is the law.

There is no true definition of what is good or bad, ethical or moral that all can agree to so, it is up to each individual to take responsibility for their own actions. This doesn't mean no harm is caused however so when it is apparent or when there is the chance that what one does is harmful, pay attention and investigate rather than find excuses not to change.

Almost all people in this world want a better world yet, most are unwilling to change their behaviours to make it so instead. They will actively ignore the evidence and fight tooth and nail so they don't have to be the ones to change.

You see the issue don't you? Be the change you want to see in the world is the advice to make this world better yet no one wants to be it, they want everyone else to change first. Good behaviour? Well, perhaps that what people are doing. They are changing themselves to get exactly what they want no matter the cost to others. It seems what people want to see in the world is more suffering, as long as it isn't them.

Yeah, this didn't answer the questions nor was it a guide on good and bad but perhaps, it will raise some questions in your own behaviours and the way you look at those of others. Just because a system allows it, it doesn't make it good and continually accepting it as such means that things are unlikely to change soon.

We need continually better as this world is a long way from being the kind of world most of us want. What is your role in this mess, are you picking up trash or throwing more down?

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]