Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Question

At the moment I am reading "The Big Questions" by Lou Marinoff and in the book the statement:

"When people are left to their own devices, and are never encouraged- or compelled- to adopt ethical systems, they often choose vices over virtues"

Do you believe in this statement? Why or why not?

Upon thinking about this that would initially go back to if we are good vs. bad, but also I can broaden my perspective does not society then help to determine the perspective of good vs. bad to give a perspective based upon what "should" be for the guidance of structure? Just curious of your perspective to give me different ways to look at this. Thanks!!

**The basis of this is Virtue Ethics known from Aristotle, Budda and Confucius.

Answer 1

I do not agree with this statement.

If a man can resist the temptations, he will always follow the right path,

that is why there are some good people and some bad people.

they are so because they adopt ethical systems by their own choice, without any supervision, and they never fall for the temptations of vices over virtues.

it is question of habit

Answer 2

My parents were liberals and never discussesd that sort of stuff.  I always had defined parameters of right and wrong in my head every since I can remember.

Nobody had to tell me how wrong drugs were, just seeing what it was doing to others made me avoid the stuff all my life. The few drugs I did take were prescribed and half the time I didn't take all the painkillers they gave me because I didn't want to get used to taking them.

I think we are all instilled with what is right and wrong to make that personal decision to do right is called free will. I believe everyone has that from birth. Society sets up parameters to set up order within it.. even primitive tribes have parameters and they are pretty much on their own.

Answer 3

I think if a person had no encouragement or ethics taught to them, they would naturally be in somewhat of a "survival" mode, which often means do everything for yourself in order to survive.  When doing for only yourself, and not considering others, vices would probably be chosen over virtues.