I wrote this for a class but I thought I might share it
Reasoning
We most times consider reasoning and logic to be our way of making decisions that affect our lives. Reasoning and logic are most often a process of thinking in which we are able to perform naturally. There are two different ways to use this process. There is a positive way of performing logic and reason. This positive process often brings about good fortune. Of course, all actions are influenced by such reasoning. We, also, have negative logic and reasoning. The negative thought process can lead to consequences which can be harmful to that person or even people around him or her. Most people would not label these types of reasoning as positive and negative, but rather label them as good and bad. Why would I label them this way rather than the most common? Good and bad are very strong words. They can be interpreted in many different ways and by many different people. These terms of good and bad exist in the eye of the beholder and their circumstances. We label someone by their actions and not their reasoning, and you have to wonder why?
I am sure there are many people who disagree with me, and I can understand why they would disagree. It may sound as if I am defending people, who are committing horrendous acts that may harm others, but I am not doing anything of the sort. What I am trying to convey is the fact we all have different circumstances. The circumstances which surround us are the basis for our logic and reasoning. This is why when we label people’s thought as good or bad I am just stunned. I am not saying that people who harm others should not be reprimanded. If someone is harmed due to negative reasoning than someone else a penalty should be enforced. Now, let us get back on the track of negative and positive reasoning.
There are many reasons why people do what they do. Some are a little more disturbing in there actions than others, but why is that? I believe we should take into account circumstances of the person. The movie “Blow” is probably the best example I can bring to your attention. “Blow” is a movie based on true events. It tells the life of a man named George Jung. Jung who came from Massachusetts; he came out to California and began to get himself involved in the drug scene. He eventually came to be involved with Medellin Cartel. Taking what I have described, most people would say that this man just was not raised with values and morals. It is also most likely he is going to be labeled as “bad”. However this is a subjective statement, because of two very distinctive reasons. The first reason does have to do with how he grew up. George’s family was not from a wealthy background and struggled to make ends meet. His father often made it clear to him that money was not everything, but because George witnessed the problems his family had his father’s lesson never took. This followed him when he moved to California, which during the late 60’s had a large drug scene. So, George was a young man with no money and drugs floating around everywhere. You probably already figured this is what influenced him to begin selling and you’re right. To top it all off, he already has a vision of making money to prevent the repetition of his childhood experiences.
I believe this movie is a great example of how circumstances can influence a person. A person, who has had nothing all his life, has two choices. This person can take the quick and easy way out and make massive amounts of money. What are they thinking about? Perhaps, they do not consider the legality or morality of their decision instead focusing upon the end means in this case copious amounts of money. This person is experiencing something they have never had before and to them it gives them the means to get what they want. This person also has another choice they can take. They can make a positive reasoning to meet the same means. An example would be taking a low paying job at maybe a factory or some sort of business with entry level positions. The process permits this person to go through the ends steps and in giving this person the means to get what they want. However, getting this position a higher status may take a lot longer. It may sound like I am contradicting myself, but I assure you I am not. When I said circumstances influence ones reasoning and logic, I never specified whether negative or positive would be the result.
Circumstances most definitely affect how someone uses reason and logic. The difference is the individual and how they handle it. Someone who grows up without a lot of wealth I believe is the best example to convey this point. The person who decides to use a positive set of reasoning and logic can become extremely successful. Sometimes bad circumstances bring out the best in people. However, there is always an opposite side to this action. Someone who just cannot find the positive way to reason out of a bad situation will almost always end up in a bad way. If we go back to the movie “Blow” it shows how negative reasoning brings harm to that person and the people around them. Through out the movie, George is struck with many different problems. He becomes very wealthy but at what cost. To give a few examples, he loses his parents and ends up in jail. As bad as those were his worst pain came when his choices lost him family. He completely alienates himself from anyone that he ever cared for and end up in jail one last time for the majority of the rest of his life.
So if we honestly look at the people and label as bad, we ought to try to understand the circumstances from which they are coming, and, then maybe, we can see things differently. I think if we took a look at reasoning in this sense, it would have two sides to it: being positive and negative. The new perspective on reasoning would a completely reshape our view of good and bad. Is that not the whole point of reasoning and logic? It is process to make our life better and not worse. I honestly do not believe people set out to hurt others, rather they respond to the circumstance around them.
