What is good and what is bad or evil? What is moral? What is ethical? Who decides good and bad, right and wrong; and by what standard? Is there an absolute standard of good and bad beyond one’s the personal opinions? Should good and bad be determined by custom, by rational law, or by the situation? What if the decisions of others (society, authorities, laws, etc) determining good and bad are contrary to one’s personal beliefs or freedoms? Should you obey others or follow your own conscience?

What is good and what is bad or evil?

These are subjective notions. Most of which are highly dependent on context and intent. Therefore without a specific example, it's impossible to say.

What is moral? What is ethical? Who decides good and bad, right and wrong; and by what standard?

Everyone decides for themselves and they choose their own standards.

Is there an absolute standard of good and bad beyond one’s the personal opinions?

You know as well as I do that many religious people that they have documents that they believe to be the final word of the creator of this universe.

Do I personally believe that any such doctuments are valid.

No.

Should good and bad be determined by custom, by rational law, or by the situation?

I choose a combination of the latter two.

Here's what Albert Einstein had to say and I'm incline to support his view.

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein

What if the decisions of others (society, authorities, laws, etc) determining good and bad are contrary to one’s personal beliefs or freedoms? Should you obey others or follow your own conscience?

You should always follow your own heart because that is the true you.

Always be true to yourself first and foremost, for you are the one who must live with your decisions.

and just when I thought I had read every Einstein quote there is a new one pops up. Thank you for sharing this one. What a remarkable quote at that.

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein


I'm with Albert.. now stop, your making me dizzy.. lol