As individuals attempt to take on the topics of right and wrong, good and bad this invariably turns into a discussion about these terms being relative. Individuals’ claim these definitions will differ based on each person or each situation. In other words, what is right for one person may not be right for another. Right and wrong, good and bad are determined by each person and therefore are relative.

However, regardless of the person or culture certain things can be accepted by all individuals as right and wrong, good and bad. All of humanity is part of the same community and in order for humanity to survive there must be a universal acceptance of things that are considered right and wrong, good and bad. For instance, is it right for certain people to kill another group of people because they believe it is right? Is this idea even good for society? The answer is obviously, no. If everyone thought it was right to kill certain people then humanity would destroy itself. Here is another example, is it right for one person to take someone else’s words and claim them for his own (plagiarism)? Again, the answer is no. These are issues that all of humanity should be able to agree on as being wrong. Therefore, we have established there are certain things that are absolutely right and absolutely wrong. If we can all agree these are wrong that concept must come from outside of each person.

The excerpt in Weston’s text (2008) on pages 49 and 50 asks “Can God Define the Good?” in this he makes the following statement. “Suppose that instead of commanding us not to kill, God had commanded us to kill” (p. 49). We know by looking in the Bible that God did not command us to kill; in fact He did the opposite, so this supposition by Weston is pointless. It would be like saying “suppose that oak tree were a rose bush”. The fact is, the oak tree is an oak tree and that cannot be changed.

Each person has a sense of right and wrong, good and bad that comes from outside of our being. We choose not between these concepts, but rather whether we will accept who the outside source of right and wrong, good and bad is. The concept of relativity, when deciding right from wrong, good or bad, is chosen by many because it is a matter of convenience for their personal desire at that moment. This author would like to ask a series of questions to those who believe in ethical and moral relativity. First, if these issues are relative to each individual, why are we taking this class? Second, why does such a course even exist in college campuses throughout the country? Finally, wouldn’t it be prudent for every person to write their own book of ethics?