Starting again

I haven't blogged in several years. I think I stopped because I don't necessarily have things of tremendous importance or intellect to talk about...but it can be therapeutic to rattle off things on your mind. And other passers-by can often offer interesting thoughts and show you new perspectives. Which I suppose is what brings me back to the blog-world.

As I sit here struggling to write a piece of my thesis, I'm distracted by thoughts of justice and fairness. (Which is kind of rare considering I usually waste my time perusing mind-numbing celebrity gossip sites and Wikipedia.) I am no philosopher, but every day it seems that our world would be better off if we as human beings placed a higher priority on justice in our actions.

Fundamental to justice, I suppose, would be a solid concept of right and wrong. Therein lies the problem, since in our world in which different cultures and beliefs are continually blending, the lines between right and wrong (which may have been previously established for many people) are now becoming blurred. While people could argue all day about whether this is "good" or "bad," the bottom line is that it seems to preclude the possibility of a consensus on what is right and wrong.

So what do we do with that? This is not a new phenomenon; people have struggled with choices and disagreement since the beginning of man. But when faced with a situation in which individuals must decide the best course of action in accordance with their personal sense of right and wrong, what informs their decisions? For many, it seems to be religious/spiritual beliefs. For others, it can be the welfare of the community or the collective group; still for others, it can be the goal of maximizing personal gain.

Are any of these things inherently more "right" than others?

It is fascinating to look at the thought processes and past experiences that factor into people's concepts of justice, fairness, and general decision-making.