Humans' moral perception is built upon their upbringing and their exposure to certain things, especially at a young age. This is why people often claim that they and others are products of their environment, and this idea is exemplified by the authors Russell P. Johnson, Tim O’Brien, and Dang Thuy Tham in their novels and articles. Russell P. Johnson, an acclaimed professor; Tim O’Brien, a Vietnam war vet with a talent for the pen; and Dang Thuy Tham, a veteran Vietnamese medic, all write their literature in a connected setting or theme of war. Although many people think that their country's actions are mostly justified during wartime, Russell P. Johnson argues that our own commitment and egotism towards established figures and structures prevent us from achieving our true boundless moral potential, as exemplified by the O’Brien and Dang Thuy Tham novels, as they greatly contrast the perspectives of both sides of the Vietnam War: a medic out on the field and a soldier in a…show more content… Despite the majority of people believing that they follow their set of altruistic moral principles no matter the circumstance, people's devotion to what they consider important circumvents their ethical guidelines and frequently keeps them from recognizing the immoral behavior in both themselves and in well-known, reliable individuals and institutions. Russell P. Johnson presents his central thesis of moral disengagement in the article "How War Bypasses Morality" by quoting psychiatrist Albert Bandura, who explains that “moral standards... do not come into play unless they are activated, and there are many social and psychological maneuvers by which moral self-sanctions can be disengaged from humane conduct" (Johnson). Since there are things that prevent us from achieving our true moral capacity, Johnson’s concept of moral disengagement is highlighted when people feel that there is some
