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Right & Wrong Understanding What Term Paper

For those who are non-religious, Natural Law is more related to common sense, meaning that knowing what is "right" and what is "wrong" is simply a matter of rational or logical thinking. However, these types of individuals often feel that Natural Law limits their freedom, yet in reality, it only limits their choices as to what is "right" and "wrong." Thus, the true nature of my own understanding of what is "right" and what is "wrong" is based on the idea that human beings "are free (to) act as we should by choice, not by instinct or compulsion. And the fact that we all know, at some level, there is a 'right thing' to do implies the existence of Natural Law" (Brumley, 2007, Internet). Regarding the quote by the Greek philosopher Socrates ("Is something right because God commands it or does he command it because it is right?"), Rebecca Donnarumma makes a very good point when she says that "If God approves of things because they are pious (i.e. right), then morality is arbitrary," meaning that what is "right' is based on an individual's personal discretion. In addition, Donnarumma adds that "the view that God merely recognizes what is good (or right) renders God into a journalist... reporting to us what we probably can discover on our own" (2006, Internet). Overall, a person must make the choice as to whether or not God is the sole creator of what is "right' and "wrong" or if man is the creator of what is "right" and "wrong."

Either way, if God commands that something is right or wrong, this shows that...

Conversely, almost everyone would agree that murder is wrong under all conditions, but as Douglas E. Krueger suggests, "God could command someone to bash infants to death, to commit genocide, to stone people to death," all of which occur in the Holy Scriptures; thus, such things would "by definition be good acts simply because God has commanded them" (Donnarumma, 2006, Internet). Personally, this quote by Socrates is meant to stir up emotions related to "right" and "wrong" in the human context. Fundamentally, every human being must make his/her own choices based on free will yet while tempered by common sense which, in the end, will prove whether or not a certain action is "right" or "wrong."
References

Brumley, Mark. (2007). "Right and Wrong 101." Catholic.net. Internet. Retrieved at http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Faith/0708-96/article3.html.

Donnarumma, Rebecca. (2006). "One Can Be Ethical and Moral Without God."

Internet. Retrieved at http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/em19151.htm.

Rushman, William E. (1998). "Ethics -- Part 1: Right and Wrong in the Christian Context." Whitestone Journal. Internet. Retrieved at http://www.whitestonejournal.com / ethics1.html.

The Holy Bible. (1960). Authorized King James Version. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Williams, Derek, Ed. (1989). New Concise Bible Dictionary. Oxford, UK: Lion Publishing.

Sources used in this document:
References

Brumley, Mark. (2007). "Right and Wrong 101." Catholic.net. Internet. Retrieved at http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Faith/0708-96/article3.html.

Donnarumma, Rebecca. (2006). "One Can Be Ethical and Moral Without God."

Internet. Retrieved at http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/em19151.htm.

Rushman, William E. (1998). "Ethics -- Part 1: Right and Wrong in the Christian Context." Whitestone Journal. Internet. Retrieved at http://www.whitestonejournal.com / ethics1.html.
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