What is Evil

mikehendo · Post by **mikehendo** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:31 pm

What is Evil?? and I dont want any stupid posts calling someone or something evil. Just tell me what you think evil is

Phoenix Talon · Post by **Phoenix Talon** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:36 pm

I think evil is, well, evil. I don't mean that in a stupid way, either. What I'm tring to say is that to be evil, one needs to have been corrupt from the begining, and from that corruption, stem outwards to other acts of malious behavior. Like I beleive that Saddam was evil because of his views and what he did to his so called followers. So I guess what I am tring to say is that evil is a state of mind where you care about nothing in life except your own goals and power, and would take things to the extreme to ensure that you get all you want.

EvilElf · Post by **EvilElf** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:43 pm

Evil is what you think it is.
Everyone has their own idea of what evil is and what good is. If someone thinks its good to kill people than to them when they kill a person they think they are doing good, but to someone else that is evil and they think that they are doing evil.

Phoenix Talon · Post by **Phoenix Talon** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:46 pm

As the saying goes, one man's terrorist is another man's hero.

End · Post by **End** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 10:33 pm

In the world of webcomics there is only one true evil and that is Tony, from Real Life Comics.

But to be serious. I agree with Freud, that we all have evil within us.

Evil is defined by what is good. As there is always two sides to everything, Whatever is good, is the opposite of evil. But what i truly question is that if everyone did something that is considered evil, and one person did the opposite. Which would be considered evil at that point? Obviously the act performed by the one would be deemed as evil because he goes against the masses.

This is just a simple idea for a much more complex subject.

I prefer not to make my head explode on such subjects.

nerogodoffire · Post by **nerogodoffire** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 10:55 pm

Original Sin.
Freedom of Choice.

The only form of pure evil that is unavoidable, uncurable, and unconquerable.

Aether · Post by **Aether** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 12:31 am

Original Sin.
Freedom of Choice.

The only form of pure evil that is unavoidable, uncurable, and unconquerable.

Nero, are you saying that freedom of choice is evil?

Huh? Or if you're saying that the only evil is "original sin", what exactly is "original sin"? That's not really clear. Okay, on to what I think.

Evil, like morals and ethics, is completely relative. Evil is what you think it is. I'm sure if you asked most Americans, they'd say that Bin Laden is evil, but you could certainly find people who think he is not. Really, you should never call anything or anyone evil without identifying the context, that is, who are the people who think that thing is evil. I suppose you could call something "actually evil" if you got everyone on the planet to agree that that thing were evil, but that would never happen anyway.
With regard to acts, it's the same thing, but no pure act (without context) is evil. For example, killing is a pure act, murder is not. The term "murder" implies killing within some context. One can hardly argue that killing is always evil. (Okay, one could, but one would be an idiot) The point is that you can't describe an act as evil without the context of that act.

Prospero · Post by **Prospero** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 12:15 pm

Simply put, good and evil is a byproduct of one of our first inventions... society! Animals who have developed community (humans, apes, etc) have a tendency to classify certain acts as 'good' and 'bad.' But what is good and bad other than to help bring a society into a state of local utopia?* Nothing. For example, if a Cheetah hunts down and kills an Antelope, is that bad? Not really. If a Praying Mantis consumes her mate, is that bad? Not really. If an Eagle leaves her nest, killing all her young, is that bad? Not really. Consciously or subconsciously, we know they have very little concept of society, and thus do not discern anything as 'good' or 'bad'... only survival and death.

*different societies have different views of good and bad, based on their own experiences and ideas. Therefore a one society can never ascertain the real state of total communal perfection. That... and I could give a 10 page essay on why utopias are an impossible dream.

Fixer · Post by **Fixer** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:20 pm

I have encountered evil.

Evil is not an act, it is a belief that others should be harmed for your pleasure. Evil derives enjoyment from acts which inflict pain and suffering, preferrably with no causation. Evil does not care about laws, rules, or freedom for it uses them as tools or shields to hide behind. True evil is not based on society, it is independant.

A person who goes on a killing spree and murders dozens believeing they are aliens invading Earth is not evil, they are insane.

A person who orders thousands killed because they angered him might be evil if he derives any pleasure from the order being carried out. If he does it without thought or feeling he is not evil, he is indifferent.

True evil hides behind indifference. It allows the 'good' to attack the indifferent, thereby subverting the 'good' to 'evil' by encouraging the 'good' to enjoy attacking and harming the indifferent. Thus, evil is perpetuated.

Think on this the next time you see someone getting hurt and think it is cool...

End · Post by **End** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:34 pm

[quote="Fixer";p="189575"]I have encountered evil.

Evil is not an act, it is a belief that others should be harmed for your pleasure. Evil derives enjoyment from acts which inflict pain and suffering, preferrably with no causation. Evil does not care about laws, rules, or freedom for it uses them as tools or shields to hide behind. True evil is not based on society, it is independant.

A person who goes on a killing spree and murders dozens believeing they are aliens invading Earth is not evil, they are insane.

A person who orders thousands killed because they angered him might be evil if he derives any pleasure from the order being carried out. If he does it without thought or feeling he is not evil, he is indifferent.

True evil hides behind indifference. It allows the 'good' to attack the indifferent, thereby subverting the 'good' to 'evil' by encouraging the 'good' to enjoy attacking and harming the indifferent. Thus, evil is perpetuated.

Think on this the next time you see someone getting hurt and think it is cool...[/quote]

Alright, lets say every person who goes on a killing spree and murders dozens, is considered evil. Then, what if 80% of the population is a murderous fiend and a the other 20% are non mudereous people.(besides the fact that there would be thousands of dead bodies everywhere)? Do you think that society in general would change their perception on what evil is?

Just something to consider.

Rembrandt Q. Einstein · Post by **Rembrandt Q. Einstein** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:19 pm

A truly evil act is anything that a person does when they know the outcome can in no way produce any good, and it will directly harm someone

a lesser form of that is when someone does something that they know is wrong, but beleive that some good will arise from this action.

yet a lesser form is an action where someone beleives the good will outwiegh the bad, this is not inherintly evil to them, but may be viewed as such by someone else
i.e. abortion

like Fixer said, there is a fine line between insane and evil, an insane person is someone who does something morally reprehensible, but they believe it is a totally correct action.

granted this only applies to actual acts

Blind Pyr0 · Post by **Blind Pyr0** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:28 pm

Evil is that ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, and has a total lack of feeling hurting, or killing those that might get in his way or he feels like killing.

Prospero · Post by **Prospero** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 12:38 am

[quote="Fixer";p="189575"]I have encountered evil.
Think on this the next time you see someone getting hurt and think it is cool...[/quote]
I don't think people getting hurt is 'cool' at all.

Mr.Shroom · Post by **Mr.Shroom** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:51 am

Evil is a very broad and easy word that every single person can understand. This has been touched on by all, but then once again personalized and branched out to circumstantial areas. Evil is an easy word. It relys more on emotion than actual definition to give itself form. 'Immorality' is a much more specific form of this word, though it doesn't quite roll off the tongue with the true emotional fire that it needs.

And of course, its a much less tricky word than 'Immorality'. Morality itself is a tricky subject. Does society define morality, and thus, what is immorality...and this, what is evil? Does God? Does every individual have to define this for themselves?

Lets warp your mind once more: Think of the most evil person you can. And I'll tell you, more likely than not, that person either thought their evil acts were justified or just didn't consider them wrong at all. Then what would YOU be to that person? Would you be wrong? Would you be insane to that person? Or would you not matter at all?

Think about it...do evil people think they're evil? What would they think of you? Would they even think of morality\immorality as tangable concepts? Could they have a point?

Think about it. It'd more likely than not scare the crap out of you, but its worth it if you REALLY want to get into the concept of evil.

mikehendo · Post by **mikehendo** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 6:48 am

I will address each post in turn, going down. I wont quote each, just because that would make this post a lot longer than it has to be.

PT: How can an individuals views alone make them evil, surely you have had impure thoughts at one point or another, does that mean that you are evil as well?

EE: IF you view evil like that, then who is to say what is right or wrong, since one man's evil is another man's good. So, was Nietzsche right when he declared "God is dead?"

PT: Indeed, indeed. However that rarely has anything to do with evil, it is often a political distinction where one side lables an individual a terrorist in the hopes of silencing that persons supporters.

End: An interestign point that what is evil is the opposite of what the masses do, but if you cling to that, then the meaning of evil changes with the times. For instance if one day everyone decided it was okay to commit genocide then the act would cease to be viewed as evil and Hitler would be declared a great hero

nerogodoffire: If evil is unavoidable then what can we learn of it?

Aether: While the context behind an act is important in defining whether it is evil or not, there are soem acts that should be held as evil regardless

Glue: Evil is a social construct to a point, but survival of a species is hardly evil, as you have said. It is all just the Circle of Life.. and no I wont break into song..

Fixer: I agree whole-heartecly

End: In that case?? well, still no..

Rembrant: However, there is a fine line between a socio-path and your average nut-job (psych term;)). Where as the sociopath has no understanding of good and evil, he can still commit an evil act. This is far removed from the person who hears the voice of God in thier ear, telling them to go kill..

Blind Pyr0: See above.. If a murderer is a sociopath (ie. they have no understanding of right or wrong) are they still evil?

Glue:

I knew that I liked something about you

Mr.Shroom: Some evil peopel undoubtably believe that what they are doing is evil, regardless of thier rationalizations. However there is a small group, and yes I do believe it is small that has a perfectly logical reason for what they are doing and believe they are in the right and thier enemies are the evil ones. As fas as morality being tangible, morals are a part of socialization, so what is moral for me is defined by what society sees as moral. However there are cases where what society sees as moral is actually Evil, hence the importance of Gandhi calling for people to disobey unjust laws.

Real Life Forums

What is Evil

What is Evil

Re: What is Evil

Who is online