Can people’s behaviour be exempt from scrutiny on the basis that their circumstances are complex? Or is a circumstance simply an excuse?
Example:
A single mother of four has been going through with financial strains in both the upkeep of their home and the demands of her children. Yet to ‘make ends meet’ she fills out her job seekers allowance incorrectly. Is this bad behaviour?
I would imagine most people would suggest that this is a bad judgement on her behalf as the benefits she seeks is means tested, and although she may be benefiting from the extra money, somewhere, someone else or something else is lacking funding to function to its best ability.
In my opinion her circumstances should not been imposed on anyone else and perhaps she doesn’t realise the affect it makes on a wider scale. If she needs further support she ought to seek additional help.
Is it ‘right’ to do the right thing?
In addition and response to the latter question, I believe that as a population, we will never come to terms the ‘right’ thing to do when so many people have different views on ethics and virtues. Plus, referring back to the example above; how is it that a woman who is struggling to live, be crying out for additional help when her needs are supposedly means tested?
So can circumstances really excuse bad behaviour?
There comes a time in a person’s life when they double cross the thought of stealing: whether they gave into their temptation or not. By law this is bad behaviour and an offence to be jailed upon.
Children may feel that their need for sweets is all too much and slip a few sweets from a shop into their pocket, perhaps because of peer pressure. But what happens when stealing becomes all too familiar?
Example:
A single mother of four has been going through with financial strains in both the upkeep of their home and the demands of her children. Yet to ‘make ends meet’ she fills out her job seekers allowance incorrectly. Is this bad behaviour?
I would imagine most people would suggest that this is a bad judgement on her behalf as the benefits she seeks is means tested, and although she may be benefiting from the extra money, somewhere, someone else or something else is lacking funding to function to its best ability.
In my opinion her circumstances should not been imposed on anyone else and perhaps she doesn’t realise the affect it makes on a wider scale. If she needs further support she ought to seek additional help.
Is it ‘right’ to do the right thing?
In addition and response to the latter question, I believe that as a population, we will never come to terms the ‘right’ thing to do when so many people have different views on ethics and virtues. Plus, referring back to the example above; how is it that a woman who is struggling to live, be crying out for additional help when her needs are supposedly means tested?
So can circumstances really excuse bad behaviour?
There comes a time in a person’s life when they double cross the thought of stealing: whether they gave into their temptation or not. By law this is bad behaviour and an offence to be jailed upon.
Children may feel that their need for sweets is all too much and slip a few sweets from a shop into their pocket, perhaps because of peer pressure. But what happens when stealing becomes all too familiar?
America inparticular have noted that of recent people are not only stealing because they want to own more, but because they're addicted. Here's a link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/21/earlyshow/contributors/melindamurphy/main650669.shtml
Large plots of robbery are far more dangerous than stealing a few sweets… so why bother?
Here's a link of woman who struggled with her addiction to stealing on a large scale:
In this example I strongly feel that a robbery on such a large scale is not for gain of money on the pieces of art, but a personal gain of first being able to steal the paintings without getting caught and secondly possessing the art work.
Even though there is a difference in the types of taking of what is not theirs from both the examples… is there really a difference in claiming money that one is not entitled to and stealing possessions?
3 comments:
I don't really understand how that can be a question? Surely if it wasn't right to do it then it would be the wrong thing?
A better question would be:-
"Is it ever right to do the wrong thing"
In response to edudrenots comment i would suggest that not only is that a valid comment, but on a certain degree i suppose you're correct.
Yet the question is stated as it is due to the fact that it makes you contemplate as to what in fact is ‘right.’
Although I believe due to a vast population of people from different traditions/customs, religions and communities; it becomes ever more complex to locate a value we can all agree upon.
What exactly is right? what is the meaning of the word ‘right?’
I would suggest; can the word 'right' only be bound to language? Or is the term 'right' in too large a semantic field, that the word no longer serves its meaning?
Then surely your question should be "What is right? and should we ever act that way?". Though you do raise a good point, and it is only how a person chooses to percieve what is right and wrong as to how they act.
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