Are all people Honorable and Good

[FearGod]

What makes one person good and the other bad ?

I don't think the environment has an effect since we can see bad and good in the one same family, many good people are poor and living in bad condition whereas we can see bad rich people living in good condition.

Is it a DNA issue or a soul one ?

 

[Revoltingest]

I can't vote because I say it's a function of both DNA & environment.

 

[LuisDantas]

What makes one person good and the other bad ?

I don't think the environment has an effect since we can see bad and good in the one same family, many good people are poor and living in bad condition whereas we can see bad rich people living in good condition.

Is it a DNA issue or a soul one ?

There is a variety of dynamics inside any family, out of age differences and structures of power and leadership. And of course, there are people and environments outside one's home that also exert some influence.

I don't think DNA is a particularly significant influence, at least when compared to the social environment. Were we a bit more wise and informed, even psychopathy could be directed into good behavior and goals.

Souls I don't believe to exist.

 

[Quintessence]

None of the above. Labels like "good" and "bad" are constructs grounded in personal/cultural values. In other words, we call a person "good" if they have qualities we happen to value, and we call a person "bad" if they have qualities that we happen to devalue. How we go about making value judgements is influenced primarily by environmental/cultural factors, and secondarily by personal ones.

 

[Iti oj]

I can't vote because I say it's a function of both DNA & environment.

Ditto

 

[Lyndon]

None of the above, morals and ethics are something you either chose to observe, not observe, or ignore, Its all a matter of choice, and that Allah gives you free will IMHO Although I guess environment is a factor in that if you were taught good lessons by your parents and school, you are more likely to make good decisions.

 

[nilsz]

There has been some research on contributing factors to anti-social behaviour, which one might look into.

None of the above. Labels like "good" and "bad" are constructs grounded in personal/cultural values. In other words, we call a person "good" if they have qualities we happen to value, and we call a person "bad" if they have qualities that we happen to devalue. How we go about making value judgements is influenced primarily by environmental/cultural factors, and secondarily by personal ones.

Oy what postmodernism. What is regarded as fact is decided by cultural values, yet there are things that we can reasonably expect to agree upon. I find it honest to act according to one's convictions.

 

[Kolibri]

Humility and a reverential fear of God promote good traits. Pride causes people to be uncorrectable, and we all make mistakes and have to struggle with our own treacherous hearts.

Pride is before a crash,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
- Proverbs 16:18

When presumptuousness comes, dishonor will follow,
But wisdom is with the modest ones.
The integrity of the upright is what guides them.
- Proverbs 11:2,3a

 

[Valjean]

What Revoltingest said...

 

[Baladas]

I think that environment is usually the biggest factor in what a person will come to value.
There may be exceptions to this though, as it is thought that psychopathy/sociopathy (which causes people to exhibit a diminished sense of empathy and morality) likely has genetic causes as well as environmental/social.

As to the soul? I am truly agnostic as to the existence or permanence of such a thing.

 

[leibowde84]

What makes one person good and the other bad ?

I don't think the environment has an effect since we can see bad and good in the one same family, many good people are poor and living in bad condition whereas we can see bad rich people living in good condition.

Is it a DNA issue or a soul one ?

It seems to be a combination of brain development and environment, of which upbringing and history of abuse plays a major role. That being said, I think it should take a lot to consider someone "bad."

 

[jeager106]

It seems to be a combination of brain development and environment, of which upbringing and history of abuse plays a major role. That being said, I think it should take a lot to consider someone "bad."

My kindred spirit ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ speaks well.
Being as I was a police officer for 22.5 years before being disabled on the job by one to many bad guys I had opportunity to see a lot of really awful aspects of the nature of man.
Saw a lot of good to.
Brain development and environmental factors (the way we were raised) have almost everything to do with how humans interact with society.
An abused child will most likely become an abuser, and a sexually abused child most often becomes a sexual devient/abuser/ a child raised by alcoholic parents will most likely have an alcohol problem. Genetics enter the picture with respects addiction but prominant psychologists report never encountering a addict that wasn't influenced by the invironment. (how the addict was raised, exposed to what?)

 

[nilsz]

Humility and a reverential fear of God promote good traits. Pride causes people to be uncorrectable, and we all make mistakes and have to struggle with our own treacherous hearts.

Pride is before a crash,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
- Proverbs 16:18

When presumptuousness comes, dishonor will follow,
But wisdom is with the modest ones.
The integrity of the upright is what guides them.
- Proverbs 11:2,3a

Do you mean God in a metaphorical sense or a literal sense? If the latter, why?

 

[FearGod]

My kindred spirit ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ speaks well.
Being as I was a police officer for 22.5 years before being disabled on the job by one to many bad guys I had opportunity to see a lot of really awful aspects of the nature of man.
Saw a lot of good to.
Brain development and environmental factors (the way we were raised) have almost everything to do with how humans interact with society.
An abused child will most likely become an abuser, and a sexually abused child most often becomes a sexual devient/abuser/ a child raised by alcoholic parents will most likely have an alcohol problem. Genetics enter the picture with respects addiction but prominant psychologists report never encountering a addict that wasn't influenced by the invironment. (how the addict was raised, exposed to what?)

Does that mean that a bad guy will always be bad and the good guy will always be good.

 

[Geoff-Allen]

We EACH have the potential 2 be a saint or a sinner.

But a sinner can always become a saint!

Coming from a loving family would seem 2 improve your chances of developing into a kind & compasssionate individual.

But even those with dysfunctional families can turn out fine, so it's all a mystery - so many influences on how a person's character develops.

What we need is a way of helping dysfunctional poeple turn their lives around. I suppose that's where religion & spirituality come into the picture.

A bit of a rambling post - just typing whatever happens 2 pop into my cotton-picking mind

"May all beings be happy."

 

[leibowde84]

Does that mean that a bad guy will always be bad and the good guy will always be good.

Unless they are a sociopath, therapy/medication seems to be a good way to help people come back to the "good," so to speak. I don't think anything is set in stone, but with sociopaths, the part of their brain that produces empathy is missing or undeveloped, so it is agreed that they are a lost cause.

 

[Augustus]

What makes one person good and the other bad ?

I don't think the environment has an effect since we can see bad and good in the one same family, many good people are poor and living in bad condition whereas we can see bad rich people living in good condition.

Is it a DNA issue or a soul one ?

Most people are both good and bad on occasions. I consider myself good but I know I have done many bad things in my life.

But given the right (or maybe wrong) conditions, almost everyone can do horrible things.

You honour Muhammed, but, by modern morality, he did many things worse than you or I have ever done. You will justify these that they were acceptable given the context in which they occurred. I'm not trying to make an argument that he did anything wrong, simply I'm pointing out that good/bad is completely contextual.

Most people are a product of their environment, we all like to think that we are exceptional and would behave differently, but most people are not special. By definition, most people are average.

Most white people in Apartheid South Africa weren't active opponents. Most people in American slave states weren't active opponents. Most Arabs in the 7th Century didn't oppose slavery. Most Athenians didn't oppose slavery either.

Yes, some people are just nasty, but most people are products of their environment. Most people would just be average in whatever era or situation they lived in.

 

[ChristineES]

I believe it's mostly environment. Everyone is born with a different temperament, however. So, although I voted for environment, I also agree with those who have said it's a combination of both DNA and environment, at least toa certain degree.

 

[JRMcC]

What makes one person good and the other bad ?

I don't think the environment has an effect since we can see bad and good in the one same family, many good people are poor and living in bad condition whereas we can see bad rich people living in good condition.

Is it a DNA issue or a soul one ?

If morals come from the soul, then what causes our morals to fail? Did the nazis have faulty souls?

 

[Lyndon]

No one is born pure bad, or born pure good IMHO. In fact I tend to think at birth we are as close to equal as we will ever get!!