Right or Wrong : A Fallacy

Ever come across anything that you think is “right” and your friend says is “wrong”? What would happen? A “wrong” may just mess everything up with a decision you have taken.

I wonder if there is anything in this world that is right or wrong. When someone says that “this is wrong”, I think s/he means that “I wouldn’t do that!” It could be out of fear or a thing learned in the past, which is actually based on personal experience. We have a tendency of labeling each and every aspect of our life with two words – right and wrong.

We do everything in our lives based on our personal assumption of right and wrong.

The concept of right and wrong

How do we categorize something as right or wrong? Something that we assume will supposedly end well is “right” and something that we assume, will bring regret and agony is categorized as “wrong.” We hear people talk about what is right and what is wrong each day and we have our own lists categorizing them as well. Every day we hear or say phrases like – “that was the right thing to do,” “it may go wrong,” “it is wrong,” “the right decision is…”

We are so obsessed with these terms that classify each and every aspect of our lives, and that of others in these two words. There is a hope attached to them that they will make it easier for us to distinguish between day and night.

Let me ask a question here. Did it ever occur to you that this practice is just an easy way out of making an effort to think and decide, what is right or what is wrong?

You may say it is wrong or you may say it is right. But when I think of it, I came up with a different theory, a different understanding and something that makes sense to me. There is no right and wrong.

Yes, let me repeat it again – “there is no right and there is no wrong.”

So, what is it that we consider as right or wrong? Before I answer it, I would like you to think about it. If there is a set rule for it then, why there is no substitute to experience? Why we do things that we should not, but have to? Why there is a difference in understanding? Why your good intention turns out bad for someone else? There can be n number of questions to think on. Don’t worry take your time. In the end, I can only give my view on this, you have to find yours.

The things are as they are

The way I started to see reality, things just are the way they are. Our choices, decisions, actions, habits, thoughts, beliefs, excuses, understanding, and the list of anything we can think of continues. Each and every aspect of our life is the way it is and each of them has advantages and disadvantages. That means there is something right and something wrong about everything. There are choices and their results – good or bad, decisions and their outcome – good or bad, actions and reactions – again good or bad.

I would like you to relate to it. Let us take the example of a bad “habit” – smoking. We are all taught that smoking is injurious to health. While it is a proven fact, some may argue that it gives satisfaction or relieves stress. In the corporate world it represents being social, almost everyone ends up being an active or passive smoker for their own reasons. Everyone would gladly present their own case – we all like to be right. Which is basically a myth, because something right for you may be wrong for someone else.

Take another example – eating healthy or with restrictions.  You can easily find the advocates for both fronts. Some may argue with a balanced diet, some may quote naturopathy. You may argue with your own points. The thing is, it is your decision and it has both the pros and cons. While eating healthy may be good for health, it deprives you of taste.

There is no right or wrong, it is the light in which you see it. We categorize things based on our understanding, our experience. It may sound absurd but things are the way they are. You have to decide or choose based on situations, not on some pre-defined categorization. Don’t copy from others as everyone has a different question paper. Learn to be a judge, as you are the best person to take your decisions. The first step is to unlearn what you know is right and wrong.

A thing that seems right turns out to be bad. You would say “I took a wrong decision.” While the consequence was bad, the decision was the same that you once considered right. The outcome doesn’t change the nature of an action. The only requirement is to think before taking a decision.

It is what I think of “right” and “wrong.” As I said earlier, take your own decision. Don’t consider it to be right or wrong. It is what it is – good, bad, terrible, confusing, but neither right nor wrong.

P.S. Please feel free to share your views or contact us.