August 2010
Freedom and guidance 1
Good and bad human
We all know people who are so aggressive, hot-tempered and maybe clumsy that they can hardly lead a regular life. Some of them become delinquents. The moralist then says: „This human is evil. He is spoiled. He must be fed to his just
punishment“. But the forensic psychologist says: “His behavior is a result of his personal disposition. He is hardly able to act differently as he does, therefore he is not fully responsible for his criminal acts“.
How does good and bad work in the animal kingdom? Should we spank the lions bottom, because it has killed a zebra? Should a crocodile be hanged on the gallows because it has devoured a swimmer? He who says: “The lion and the crocodile are evil animals“, makes himself ridiculous. But when we say: “The
lion and the crocodile are dangerous animals“ we are correct. The lion and the crocodile do not need morality, but a habitat in which they do not cause too much harm.
How animals are different, so are people different. How animals are to be accepted as they are, also people are to be accepted as they are. There are long and short, clumsy and intelligent, calm and nervous, adventurous and anxious people and you have your own character too. Nobody has the right to say you should be someone other. You have the right to be the way you are!
Every human has the right to be the way he is.
To be a human means making mistakes. For someone with a really difficult character, failures can become a problem. It can also become a problem for neighbors and for the whole society. A very difficult person needs a habitat in which he feels accepted, in which he can not cause too much trouble and in which he can learn to take some responsibility for himself. We need to protect the society from him and help to advance his social competence. Therefore we will need appropriate laws, regulations and measures.
We all know people who try to cope with life in a cross way. They may be rude, unreasonable, often in a bad mood and hostile to everyone. Maybe they are violent and dangerous too. They find little recognition. Nobody would want to have a disastrous life as they have. It makes no sense to punish them, because by being who they are, they are sufficiently punished. Even if the neighbors would prefer to send them to death row, the parents of the criminals usually see things differently.
They see their children not only as criminals but also as victims of their tragic disposition and they are usually right.