Right and Wrong

Right and wrong is the new frontier. Some people’s certainty to be right, and that the “other” is wrong, whatever the subject, outside faith or religious belief, I find insufferable. That truth exists is undeniable. Knowing about truth is possible, in a narrow window of time and space: the universe is not static. Weather changes all the time, stars are born and die, children grow older, we are doomed to die.

I may want to believe something, that eventually, tomorrow, or in ten years, turn out to be a scam or some deep fake. So a degree of skepticism in most things, is advisable. I have omitted matters of faith, for spirituality has its own domain, away from logic or justification. Systems of belief are respectable, certainty to be right, whatever the arguments, the evidence, proofs to the contrary, is not. 

Inept assurance

History, past or recent, our daily experience, writings of countless authors, traditions, and indeed, the sacred scriptures of many creeds, give us so many examples. What goes with the inept assurance of those who cannot be wrong, is open hostility to those who doubt, and question. The root of this weird phenomenon, at its paroxysm in modern politics and society, is the entire submission of the individual to group think and what Orwell, who knew a thing or two about propaganda, described as the cult of the false: war is peace, male is female, young is old etc.

Certainty of that kind is the result of deep damage to a person’s reason and ability to think for themselves. Indeed it may be the result exposure to media, a weakness of reasoning, or even the inability to exercise even a modicum of reflective analysis on simple facts. What is there to do about it? First of all it is clear that the ability to consider facts without prejudice is essential to basic coexistence between people, let alone between societies from different cultures.

Extremes

Failing the faculty to observe, contemplate, and then decide on what is known with a degree of confidence, which is not the same as certainty, is a step  to conflict, irreconcilable misunderstanding, in the extreme, to war. At this point we observe an obvious divide between the tenants of “it’s black or white”, of  “if not with us against us” and similar fallacies, and those of the patient, tolerating kind: “I think what you are doing is mistaken, but I will cautiously wait for the consequences.”

Stuff of disasters

Absolute, intolerant certainty, is the stuff of disasters, in some cases of persecution, always, in the end, of misery and loss. Human beings are fallible, only the Creator sees the Universe in its entirety. We can only conclude that what we can safely believe in, part from His omniscience, is that we know very little, that in most things we have to learn, from experience from our spirituality, our observations, from prayer. From time to time an inspired genius, or clear thinker, reminds us to be humble. We rarely listen. In the worst case we continue to be persuaded to be right.

Conclusion

In wrapping up our exploration of right and wrong, it’s clear that navigating these murky waters isn’t as straightforward as we’d like to believe. Embracing a sense of skepticism can actually be a breath of fresh air, allowing us to question our assumptions and remain open-minded. After all, in a world filled with diverse perspectives, recognising that we might not have all the answers can lead to greater understanding and compassion. So, let’s keep the conversation going, challenge our beliefs, and remember that it’s okay to be uncertain. That’s where the real growth happens.

Featured image: Michele Petrelli