What it takes for me

Prompt: Right or Wrong?

I think that it is in everyone to be an absolutist when it comes to morality, but we are relativists when we actually apply it to ourselves. We as a society have put absolute right and wrong on the back burner. We all know deep down what is right and wrong, and we know what should be done. But, we find ways to justify wrongdoing when we want it to benefit ourselves. We also ignore what is right when it hinders us from doing what we want to do. We often end up having inner dilemmas about what to do.

There are many cases in which people can change absolute morality into relative morality. Apolino's arguments, especially argument four, give exapmles. Everyone knows that it is wrong, to commit murder, but numerous people do it every year. When asked, most of them actually have a reason for doing it. When people perjure in court, they do it do help keep themselves or someone close from being punished.

I do believe in absolute morality. I think that there is a set notion of right and wrong for everyone. I feel that inside, I am an absolutist. When there is any question about what is right or wrong, I know what is right. If I feel that I would benefit more from or have more fun doing what is wrong, I change things around or just ignore it to make it acceptable in my eyes. In this process, I become a relativist.

I have done many things that are wrong, but I have rationalized them to be accepted as right (at least in my eyes). For instance, I know that it is morally wrong to smoke cigarettes. It can cause a number of problems for you and the people around you. I smoked for around six years, knowing that it was wrong. I rationalized by telling myself and those around me that I did it only when I was stressed. I also recognized aloud that it was wrong and tried to make it seem ok by telling people that I was quitting soon. Eventually, I just ignored the fact that it was something wrong. I think that I conditioned myself to think that it was ok. My absolute view of right and wrong took over in the end, and I quit. Something that I still do to this day that I know is wrong is lying. I know that it is wrong to lie, but I do it on a daily basis to make things ok. If a friend gets a bad haircut, I tell them that it looks great so that they won't feel self-conscious. If someone cooks something for me, I always tell them that it tastes great so that they don't feel bad.

It is in us all to do what is right, but it is not always that simple in most situations. We have to look out for ourselves and others when making decisions, and that often leads to abandoning what is really right. We all do what is wrong at times, but I guarantee that we will all have an explanation or justification for what we did. We can turn our situations into whatever we want them to be.