Ethics continuing education
It is a difficult question to ponder, whether people are inherently good or bad. Some believe all people fit into either category while others believe it is a combination of both elements. Based on the trials and tribulations I have encountered in my lifetime and the woes of the world I have seen, I believe that most people are born good, however there are some biological differences that do make people “bad” in the sense they have no remorse or compassion to other living creatures. In society, this is typically how we define bad people.
Often times good people make bad decisions. This does not make them bad people, but rather they made a bad decision that clouded their persona as a good person temporarily. It does not mean that they are stuck with the stigma of “bad” but that they now have to rectify the situation and prove themselves that they are good in the eyes of others.
Religion can and does often guide basic ethical concepts however it is not an all inclusive approach to the subject. Many people quote God’s law in determining who is good and bad in this world. The Devine theory labels all people as sinners but that they can find a path to heaven by being good, righteous people. All continuous, unrepentant sinners are bad and go to hell. Then there are other ethical foundations, such as Kant, who used reasoning and an analytical approach to conclude what is ethical (good) and what is unethical (bad). Kant’s use of reason and will demonstrates a “rationalistic approach to ethics” (p. 24).
It is my firm belief that most people are good, however there are always exceptions to the rule and some people are inherently bad and/or evil. I believe that those who cause intentional, undue physical harm to others are inherently bad as well as those who harm vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly. These people may have cranial issues that cause them to behave certain ways, however the fact that they chose to act upon their thoughts of harm rather than to rationalize, as Kant would, that the idea of acting out is unethical makes them bad.
Good people would not cause harm to others intentionally. In addition, good people might cause harm to others semi-intentionally or accidentally but make efforts to rectify the situation. This does not make them bad, but they are good people who make bad decisions. An example of this would be a thief. A person who steals from another could do so for many reasons. The individual could be stealing to feed a starving child, stealing to make money to pay the electric bill, stealing to buy drugs, or stealing for the excitement. Yes, I agree none of these are sufficient reasons to break the law. However, the fact that the thief puts more thought into their actions shows that they have a thought pattern that leads them away from being inherently good to making a bad decision. Whether the thievery is to feed a child or an addiction, the good person makes a bad choice and inadvertently harms another.
Living by a code of ethics is not always easy. Not all decisions are crystal clear, in fact most are not. It is up to each of us to decide, based on our education, culture, and understanding of society, how we chose to conduct ourselves on an ethical plane. Ethics are generally flexible from person to person, however there are common themes amongst most of us which help us all keep in sync with one another as a collective.
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