3/20/16 - To be right, you must want to be right. Everyone in the world believes that they are right (in some sense). Some people think they are right in doing things that the mind understands are overtly wrong! This is because individual pride, which everyone possesses and is possessed by, makes the statement "I am right". If you didn't believe that, you couldn't remain proud. But what if, to actually be right about anything, you must do so on an ethical pretense. That's what the word "right" actually means, isn't it? Right = good = truth. Ethics is a branch of philosophy, and is viewed by philosophers as a primary component of reality. My philosophical understanding is that you can't separate the ideas of being "right", and being ethical. So, from now on, if anyone tells you that they are right when they are being clearly unethical, just say "No, sorry, you're wrong... and I think I can make you agree :)" I think it actually works out that true power is derived from correctness. A quick example: Most people will agree that war is wrong. They know it's an evil thing. But many will also say that it is an ethical obligation to fight in a war to stop the other side. What if you are a General and you are commanding others to fight for your side to their deaths? Do you have the right to tell others to fight to the death for you? You would have to know whether it is right or wrong, but how would you resolve that conclusion? My answer is that war is wrong, and I won't be the General. War is something out of my control. Opinion: I think all wars are irrational fights between ignorant individuals. I would never start a war, therefore I won't fight in one for you. The most ethical solution is to understand this and cause an end to war by refusing to participate. That sounds unreasonable because a danger would still exist if not everyone did this. My solution then is to stop war gradually by constantly making efforts for peace - stop weapons production for profit, and promote the ideal of a non-hostile world community. It is unethical to use an unethical thing to control the presence of "it". This is the poor solution that we currently employ. An unethical solution does not solve, but lies that it will. The devices of war foster their selves. |