When is it that a person's innocence is lost forever?

Question

I've wondered about this a lot. Of course everybody knows what it means in the legal sense, but what about in the philosophical? I'm not sure, but I don't think innocence is really the opposite of corruption. I think that only a truly innocent person is never afraid. Only an innocent person never hates anyone. When a person recognizes evil in the world, or even evil in themselves, is this when your innocence is lost forever?

Answer 1

when they are sexually molested or abused.

Answer 2

I always thought that it was when a person first engage in s*x.

Answer 3

our innocence is only lost when we believe it to be.

Answer 4

Innocence never lost but buried beneath our  beliefs.Our beliefs originated within obtained knowledge and a knowledge is a Biblical Fruit which grown on a tree of Knowledge as I remember..Innocent person is not brave , he is fearless...and we are always fearless when we do not know . Yes innocence do not know hate...Here is a paradox. Solution is being above knowledge, not within or bellow..We 'losing innocence with first fear entered in a consciousness...

Answer 5

An person's (pure son's) innocence (inner sense) is never "lost," but is perhaps covered over. defined down as deviancy, etc.  It can be reclaimed, a la Joni Mitchell's "We've got to get back to the Garden."

In other words, childlike inner sense is treasured in heaven.  The daily cycle of waking, working, and resting in dreams is a miniature of a lifetime.  Each day brings new promise.

"The Path of the Higher Self," Mark Prophet,

"The Great Divorce," C. S. Lewis,

"A Philosophy of Universality," O. M. Aivanhov.

Answer 6

when they are old enough to know right from wrong and they choose the wrong choice

Answer 7

...your first life and death experience...

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innocent

when a person chooses a path of cruelty or hatred he loses his innocense forever. also when he can choose from right and wrong he loses his innocense.

Answer 9

This is a fascinating question...

I'm not certain that there is a right or wrong answer, and if there is, I think it could still be subjective dependent on one's definition of innocence, and maybe even the context in which it is used.

I think your explanation is a good one in the purest sense of the word;however, I would venture to place the word naive beside the word innocent, and ask...is it possible to lose one and not the other?

Even an infant or young child can demonstrate an instinctive fear or avoidance of someone or something for reasons that may not be clear to us.

I'm one of those rather strange beings who spent a very long time in life really, truly believing that every person has "good" somewhere in his or her soul.  I was shaken to the core when I came to the conclusion, belief, realization -whatever you choose to term it- that there are people who reach a point in life when they are consumed, live, and practice "evil" -(for lack of a better descriptive word) -people who have lost all redemptive qualities, who exist solely to harm, destroy, and create pain, anger, and anguish.

I struggled with every fiber of my being to find a new vantage point from which to view the world.  Every place I tried made me feel sadness and disillusion.

I finally came to a place of rest...note that I say rest, not peace - when I made the decision that I will keep my heart and my mind open...I will welcome those who come into and pass through my life, with the full acceptance and realization that they may be there for a brief moment in time...or for a lifetime...that they may surpass my perception of what I thought they would put in or take out of my life, or they may never approach anything close...

However, I do not disregard my intuition when I encounter people who discomfort me.  I have learned through experience that even when I cannot define or identify the reason for my discomfort, it is unwise to go against my instincts.

So, while I approach the world from the perspective of "innocence," it is a conscious decision, made because I am no longer naive.

So, perhaps we have the ability to guard our innocence and give up our naivete?  

Just thoughts from a slightly different perspective...

I will be interested to see other thoughts on this.

Answer 10

I think innocence is lost when we stop believing in something. So in a way, most of us still haven't lost our innocence but those who does not believe any longer, have basically lost their will to live.

Just my thought - you are welcome to argue it.