forum for week of 12 September

What separates a good reason from a bad reason for having a particular belief? For example, if we believe that stealing is wrong for the reason that individuals should not take something that does not belong to them, why do we believe this? What makes this a good reason for not stealing? Many of our reasonings for certain beliefs are grounded through conditioning by the society in which we are surrounded by. However, because every culture has different values, it is difficult to objectively determine which arguments behind every belief is "right" or "wrong". Another example: Causing physical harm to another human being is believed to be unethical because that person is suffering, one could argue that the person inflicting the pain is gaining pleasure from it, and thus the belief of hurting others as a good thing is justified. Although certain ethics are universal, we must ask ourselves why they are and by which means these standards are formed.