If you could break laws/take advantage of others without any fear of punishment, would you?

[Special K]

This is a hypothetical question obviously, but after reading BoberFett's thread about good and evil, I just kind of wondered about it. Basically, do people obey laws and do what they feel is right or good more because they genuinely feel compelled to or because they fear the consequences of doing otherwise? If you could be assured of getting away with pretty much anything, would you take advantage of it? Maybe this is a dumb question and the thread will sink to the bottom quickly, maybe it will start a flame war, I don't know. It was just something that crossed my mind and I thought I'd post it.

 

[yllus]

For small things, yes.

These aren't the droids you're looking for.

 

[Spac3d]

Defintely.

 

[filmmaker]

Of course

 

[Siddhartha]

"If you could break laws/take advantage of others without any fear of punishment, would you?"

Nope, I am happy with the way things are right now.

 

[Ynog]

Just If I was the only one able to break laws, then I probably would end up breaking them. I would start small.
Little things, like not paying for stuff. And who knows over time where it would end.

Its a slippery slope.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

Just speeding.

 

[DougK62]

Well I do what I think is "right or good" all the time - I don't pay much attention to laws. So if laws were gone I'd still be doing the same things.

 

[B00ne]

I already do, each time I press down the accelerator on my car. Luckily the 45 HP keep me from extreme severity in the rare cases I do get punishment

 

[guyver01]

i already speed without impunity...

so why not go full on Dark Jedi

Once you start down the path to the dark side, forever shall it dominate your destiny.

i'm ok with that

 

[Bateluer]

Nope. I am too much of a firm believer in law to break it myself.

 

[Spamela]

why don't you just ask "are you a psychopath?"

 

[captains]

they world would be mine

 

[Ferocious]

There are plenty of Udays in the world.

Given the chance, many humans would be ruthless tyrants.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Ferocious
There are plenty of Udays in the world.

Given the chance, many humans would be ruthless tyrants.

Unfortunately, I must agree. Power corrupts, its a saf fact. But there would be a large number of people who would have unrivaled compassion and kindness.