We are often told in these politically-correct times and culture:
"Don't judge others", "Don't be judgemental"
I say - "Do judge and be judgemental. However, the only two bases on which to judge any person in a particular situation are Intelligence and Goodness."
The questions to ask are:
"Are they being intelligent (or not)?
Are they being good (or not)?"
- as it applies to the current issue or situation.. not as a blanket judgement across their life.
It is almost a necessity to judge people on those two counts to interact with them anytime. We all do it out of instinct and habit. It does not mean we are being unfair or harsh to anyone by judging them accurately.
Obviously, the caution against being judgemental has to do with one of the definitions of the word 'judgemental' - "having an overly critical point of view". The fear here is of judging people harshly or more negatively than warranted". I have never heard of anyone complaining about being judged more positively than warranted! In fact, quite the opposite - we are, as a society flooded with overly hyperbolic praises and words that stretch the limits of credibility about the goodness all around - "Fantastic! Incredile! Awesome!" all thrown around loosely and cheaply more than coins of the lowest denomination! Many words have lost their original value.
I agree that often we judge on some basis that is unfair and not good for a just and harmonious society. It is therefore recommended we NOT judge people UNFAIRLY on those criteria - race, colour, age, height, weight, health, sexual orientation, language, nationality, education. These just FACTS about them. It is OK to OBJECTIVELY and FAIRLY apply these facts where they are relevant to a situation. For example - in identifying a person in a criminal case, in a criteria for a job skill, for legal requirements of a carnival ride or a medical procedure etc.
When judging people for their intelligence or goodness, it is important to judge accurately and keep in mind it may not always be possible for us to do so! We are far from perfect ourselves,but nevertheless have to try and do our best.
I think the ability to judge, judgement and judgemental nature is most highly developed in humans and it defines us as a species more than any others. It is silly to ask us NOT to be judgemental. It is in our nature. I would say "DO judge and be judgemental of people in most issues, as one is instinctively anyway - just dont judge people on superficial irrelevant criteria.
IMO, there are only two valid and relevant criteria to judge and be proudly judgemental of ANYONE in almost ANY situation - Intelligence and Goodness.The important thing to keep in mind is - we are all not at exactly the same level ourselves in all situations - We are each intelligent or not-intelligent, Good or Not-Good in varying situations. It is worth judging ourselves too while we are judging others.
There are broadly four types of people that emerge from such a judgement using a binary - two levels approach.
Good Not-Good
Intelligent Great! Easy Most Dangerous
Not-Intelligent Might Need Support Often Most Difficult
It becomes clear that we need to expect and prepare for different approaches to the dealing with each of the four different types.
Of course, it is possible to develop finer levels of judgement in these two areaas
Intelligent - from Rational, Smart, Clever... all the way to Genius
Not-Intelligent - from Silly, Irrational... all the way to Stupid
Good - from Reasonable, Kind ... all the way to a Saint!!
Not-Good - from selfish, unreasonable.. all the way to EVIL!!
One can develop more detailed recommended approaches to dealing with varying combinations of the levels of Intelligence and Goodness. It may be sometimes easier to deal with an evil genius than with a good person who is not clever. We deal lovingly and tolerantly with children instinctively!
So, go on be judgemental! Judge! Judge others and yourself too! ;-)
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2017
All Rights Reserved
"Don't judge others", "Don't be judgemental"
I say - "Do judge and be judgemental. However, the only two bases on which to judge any person in a particular situation are Intelligence and Goodness."
The questions to ask are:
"Are they being intelligent (or not)?
Are they being good (or not)?"
- as it applies to the current issue or situation.. not as a blanket judgement across their life.
It is almost a necessity to judge people on those two counts to interact with them anytime. We all do it out of instinct and habit. It does not mean we are being unfair or harsh to anyone by judging them accurately.
Obviously, the caution against being judgemental has to do with one of the definitions of the word 'judgemental' - "having an overly critical point of view". The fear here is of judging people harshly or more negatively than warranted". I have never heard of anyone complaining about being judged more positively than warranted! In fact, quite the opposite - we are, as a society flooded with overly hyperbolic praises and words that stretch the limits of credibility about the goodness all around - "Fantastic! Incredile! Awesome!" all thrown around loosely and cheaply more than coins of the lowest denomination! Many words have lost their original value.
I agree that often we judge on some basis that is unfair and not good for a just and harmonious society. It is therefore recommended we NOT judge people UNFAIRLY on those criteria - race, colour, age, height, weight, health, sexual orientation, language, nationality, education. These just FACTS about them. It is OK to OBJECTIVELY and FAIRLY apply these facts where they are relevant to a situation. For example - in identifying a person in a criminal case, in a criteria for a job skill, for legal requirements of a carnival ride or a medical procedure etc.
When judging people for their intelligence or goodness, it is important to judge accurately and keep in mind it may not always be possible for us to do so! We are far from perfect ourselves,but nevertheless have to try and do our best.
I think the ability to judge, judgement and judgemental nature is most highly developed in humans and it defines us as a species more than any others. It is silly to ask us NOT to be judgemental. It is in our nature. I would say "DO judge and be judgemental of people in most issues, as one is instinctively anyway - just dont judge people on superficial irrelevant criteria.
IMO, there are only two valid and relevant criteria to judge and be proudly judgemental of ANYONE in almost ANY situation - Intelligence and Goodness.The important thing to keep in mind is - we are all not at exactly the same level ourselves in all situations - We are each intelligent or not-intelligent, Good or Not-Good in varying situations. It is worth judging ourselves too while we are judging others.
There are broadly four types of people that emerge from such a judgement using a binary - two levels approach.
Good Not-Good
Intelligent Great! Easy Most Dangerous
Not-Intelligent Might Need Support Often Most Difficult
It becomes clear that we need to expect and prepare for different approaches to the dealing with each of the four different types.
Of course, it is possible to develop finer levels of judgement in these two areaas
Intelligent - from Rational, Smart, Clever... all the way to Genius
Not-Intelligent - from Silly, Irrational... all the way to Stupid
Good - from Reasonable, Kind ... all the way to a Saint!!
Not-Good - from selfish, unreasonable.. all the way to EVIL!!
One can develop more detailed recommended approaches to dealing with varying combinations of the levels of Intelligence and Goodness. It may be sometimes easier to deal with an evil genius than with a good person who is not clever. We deal lovingly and tolerantly with children instinctively!
So, go on be judgemental! Judge! Judge others and yourself too! ;-)
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2017
All Rights Reserved
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