Moral issues are always very complex. Largely because there is no universal measure of good and evil, if the matter does not concern cornerstone issues. But even here difficulties arise. For example, the problem of euthanasia still worries many people, and people cannot solve the question of which moral pole it can be attributed to. So, our today's subject is also not as simple as it seems. We will talk about the adjective "reprehensible", this object, we hope, no one will find immoral.
Value
What actions are called reprehensible? Those that are contrary to the morality that is professed in a particular society. For example, we cannot take away candy from a child, offend the weak, be angry with parents, and wish our neighbor’s wife. But in many of the diversity of cultures of the past and present, we can find examples where some of these Christian taboos are violated. For example, the case of Sparta is known, where sick children were disposed of. True, the sources mention that such a ritual concerned only those who seriously deviated from the physical canon of a person accepted in Spartan society.
Or another example: nomadic peoples rather early put their children on horses. There is nothing to be done, this is the custom. Therefore, a child at four years old could already be called a little warrior, try this candy taken away.
These famous episodes of world history tell us that “reprehensible” is a relative concept. And now let's find out the opinion of the explanatory dictionary. Our faithful assistant thinks the following about the meaning of the object of study: "Worthy of censure, condemnation." The reader sees that, in any case, the definition needs interpretation. But, perhaps, replacing the subject of our conversation will clarify the meaning of the word “reprehensible”?
Synonyms
Despite the fact that the word is found in everyday speech quite often, its meaning is not so easy to understand if you do not dwell on the dictionary meaning. Who condemns us before any trial? Society or do we crucify ourselves on the cross of conscience? The question is interesting. But let's still find out synonyms for the adjective “reprehensible”, this is important, and then we’ll talk about the “inner judge”. So the list:
- bad;
- bad;
- outrageous;
- sinful;
- unseemly.
As you can see, the first three positions explain a lot to us without any difficulties. Another thing is a moral scale that would suggest which action is good and which is bad and why. But people have been arguing about such issues for centuries, so in life there is a diversity of not only good forms, but also evil.
The prefix "pre-" and the question of conscience
The dictionary says that this adjective refers to something reprehensible. And here two points are interesting: who decries and on what grounds? Because the prefix “pre-” tells us that the decision on morality or immorality is made before any court, or perhaps before any judgment, that is, somewhere deep inside, when we act badly, we are well aware of this. So, all the same, our conscience condemns us, but society has nothing to do with it? Not certainly in that way. Our conscience is formed from the value material that society and the family offer us as their authorized representative. Therefore, a reprehensible one is a verdict that a society makes to a person using his conscience.
But in order not to exaggerate, let’s say: the ability to moral self-criticism and condemnation of one’s actions is a good trait rather than a drawback. So, you not only live, but also think, that is, analyze your behavior, and this is priceless. The main thing is not to overdo it or torture yourself on every occasion. There are such people. Otherwise, the value of a reprehensible act for self-education cannot be overestimated. If a person never makes a mistake, how then does he know the truth?