I was involved in a discussion this week that challenged my view of right and wrong, and at this point the question remains slightly unsettling to me.
So, here is the “Right and Wrong” Paradox: Can one be wrong, even though they are doing the right thing, if their actions conflict with general thinking of the society they are living in?
Let’s take an extreme example, as I believe it makes the best point.
During World War II anti-Semitism was rampant in most of Europe. In Germany, however, anti-Semitic feelings were unparalleled. As a result Jews lost their money, ended up as slaves or in prison camps, and created a general belief that Jews were not people and should be treated as such.
The majority of German society, at the time, reflected these views. An overwhelming sense of hatred towards Jewish people became the accepted reality within Germany.
Now, if you happened to live in Germany during this period and you did not believe that Jews were the root of all evil, rather that society should be protecting this group of people instead of prosecuting, you would be wrong based on what society was teaching at the time. If you attempted to protect these people, you would be wrong simply for doing what you believe to be the “right” thing?
What about today?
In society today there seems to be a growing lack of accountability, both in corporate America and society in general. If you are a manager in a corporation, and your organization does seems to not hold people accountable for their actions, but you attempt to hold individuals to a higher standard – a standard simply known as doing their job in other corporate cultures – are you wrong for doing so even though your corporate culture allows such a mentality to exist?
Again, I ask, can one be wrong even though they are doing the right thing?
Personally, I have not arrived at an answer for this question. I am not sure that I ever will as it raises so many questions and implies a number of assumptions. It is something that I continue to think about… but it sure is an interesting question, no?