(January 27, 2020 at 8:58 pm)Belacqua Wrote:(January 27, 2020 at 8:20 pm)AtlasS33 Wrote: The only way to stop such behavior is to have clear, official laws and rules, to stop that behavior at bay before it hurts and destroys.
Before it causes not just psychological harm; but also physical harm.
I agree that clear official rules can go some way toward damping down psychological abuse.
Actually "can go some way" is a pretty light description for the effect of rules on a society: good structured rules can eradicate many forms of psychological abuse, societies that witness a good-structured constitution are way different than societies with poor-structured laws.
Quote:But I think we also said the other day that it is intrinsic to humans to find ways to avoid rules that are handed down from above. Whether that "above" is said to be God or just human authority.
Yes; humans always try to find ways around the rules; but it's not mandatory, they can also choose ceasing to find ways around the rules if they believed that the aftermath hurts others or even themselves.
Quote:So there is something more difficult that is necessary, I think. And I think that severe self-criticism is crucial. Because we know from experience that people who do harm generally feel they are justified. Therefore when we feel justified is exactly the time we need the most severe self-examination.
I learned this most directly from William Blake, but it is intrinsic in Christian thought: obedience to the law can be a method to avoid empathy, and a justification for our own cruelty. This is true whether it's law from "above" or peer pressure.
Sever self-criticism is the key. Personally; I think one should question their actions at all times, criticizing what they find doesn't fit their moral law.