Philosophy Q.: Does might make right?

[battleknight24]

I know this is a broad question... but hey, why not make it a broad discussion?


Peace,

[EstimatedProphet]

1. No

Right and wrong are truths. At their base, they apply anywhere. Force doesn't change that. If it did, then bullies would be right.

[XemaSab]

2. No way

If Hitler had more people and guns than the Jews, does that make the Holocaust okay?

[NMMNG]

3. No

Just because I have bigger muscles, better weaponry, or money to buy goons to terrorize you does not make me right.

[leftstreet]

4. Might has been used as a method to make right,

that which the previous might made wrong.

[battleknight24]

5. (OP) But why do so many believe might makes right?

Or why did so many people used to believe that might made right? Are we simply wiser in this day and age?


Peace,

[hfojvt]

6. Nobody ever believes that might makes right

Unless they think the might is on their side, in which case, they are less concerned with "doing right" than they are with "doing what they want to do". Many people do what they want to do, and look for justification later.

If there is any group which believes that "might makes right" it might be, paradoxically enough, religious people. They feel that armies do not win battles - God wins them. Thus, the fact that our army won the battle proves that we were right, otherwise God would have taken the other side and we would have lost. You see the same thing in sports - players score touchdowns and give the credit to God. I scored the touchdown with God's help, and we won the game with God's help. Thus, apparently God is on the side of the victors.

Myself, I still like Yogi Berra's philosophy. He was catching and a batter came up who drew a cross in the dirt. Yogi got up and wiped the cross away, saying "Why don't we just let God enjoy the game?"

I do not expect God to enjoy the battle, but I cannot see, historically, where the victors have always been the good guys. So I have a hard time believing that God takes a side there either.