Good and Evil

[ZenMonkey]

Ok, so much talk and discussion and disagreement and not too much unity of mind on this subject to date ... err ... at least from what I've experienced in life thus far. What constitutes good and what constitutes evil and why? Easy question which should have an easy answer, but then ... that isn't always the case so ... Lets dance.

 

[Rival]

Easy question?? I struggle with strawberries or raspberries, let alone what is good and evil!

 

[Estro Felino]

In my humble opinion...sometimes we see good as evil...and evil as good...
It is all a matter of perspective

 

[robocop (actually)]

Ok, so much talk and discussion and disagreement and not too much unity of mind on this subject to date ... err ... at least from what I've experienced in life thus far. What constitutes good and what constitutes evil and why? Easy question which should have an easy answer, but then ... that isn't always the case so ... Lets dance.

Since God is so high up, He can distinguish good and evil to the maximum. That's the idea I think.

 

[Orbit]

Evil is that which goes against the social order, destroys relationships, sows discord, and harms people.

 

[ZenMonkey]

In my humble opinion...sometimes we see good as evil...and evil as good...
It is all a matter of perspective

Can or rather will you give a couple examples?

 

[ZenMonkey]

Since God is so high up, He can distinguish good and evil to the maximum. That's the idea I think.

Who's?

 

[ZenMonkey]

Evil is that which goes against the social order, destroys relationships, sows discord, and harms people.

On the first point I might disagree ... depending on "social order". Maybe on the second point too. It takes two to tango ya know? On the third point I might disagree again. Sometimes it's good to protest ... I enjoy Ecclesiastes ... It's a pretty good read. Third point ... I do disagree and here's why: People have the right to defend themselves, even when it entails harming others or rather the aggressors who threaten harm on us.

 

[robocop (actually)]

Who's?

My own.

We have trouble telling and choosing good from evil. God would be exceedingly expert at it, knowing all the intricacies, and managing them throughout time.

The only rule is that two opposites cannot co-exist.

 

[leov]

Evil is that which goes against the social order, destroys relationships, sows discord, and harms people.

It is an outflow from the Golden Rule: does it harm?

 

[Regiomontanus]

Ok, so much talk and discussion and disagreement and not too much unity of mind on this subject to date ... err ... at least from what I've experienced in life thus far. What constitutes good and what constitutes evil and why? Easy question which should have an easy answer, but then ... that isn't always the case so ... Lets dance.

Deeds which flow from from man acting without love is evil. That is, love promotes what is good and right.

 

[Skwim]

.

(with a little help from Wikipedia)

Evil: profound wickedness / immorality

Good: In most contexts; that which should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions.

​

I don't see good and evil as being diametric opposites.

.​

 

[Nakosis]

Ok, so much talk and discussion and disagreement and not too much unity of mind on this subject to date ... err ... at least from what I've experienced in life thus far. What constitutes good and what constitutes evil and why? Easy question which should have an easy answer, but then ... that isn't always the case so ... Lets dance.

IMO, stop trying to determine what is good and what is evil. Instead figure out what makes you happy and do that.

 

[stvdv]

What constitutes good and what constitutes evil and why? Easy question which should have an easy answer

Good: "Hurt Never" or "Do unto others what you want others to do unto you"
Evil: Go against your conscience, so not following the above line

 

[sun rise]

Different cultures at different times have had differing view on what constitutes good and evil.

For example, in earlier Roman times not worshiping the gods was evil as was insisting that this Jew from the Middle-East was the Son of God. Now of course, for many it's reversed.

So the question is whether there is something not culturally determined. From the perspective I hold, evil is the remnant of earlier good. One example is that slaughtering members of another tribe was good in its time and place but evil today.

Then to me the question is what beliefs and actions today further our biological and cultural evolution. We've seen from animal studies that cooperation and even sacrificing one's life can be positive as some animal research has shown.

Applying cultural evolution etc today leads me to the belief that today love, kindness, generosity, heroism and so forth are good. That makes hatred, unkindness, selfishness and cowardice evil.

 

[BSM1]

Evil is that which goes against the social order, destroys relationships, sows discord, and harms people.

Which makes the definition of good and evil a total human concept...

 

[Twilight Hue]

Ok, so much talk and discussion and disagreement and not too much unity of mind on this subject to date ... err ... at least from what I've experienced in life thus far. What constitutes good and what constitutes evil and why? Easy question which should have an easy answer, but then ... that isn't always the case so ... Lets dance.

I suppose it depends on how good and evil are being used.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Which makes the definition of good and evil a total human concept...

I rather hate agreeing with you, but ...

 

[Regiomontanus]

.

(with a little help from Wikipedia)

Evil: profound wickedness / immorality

Good: In most contexts; that which should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions.

​

I don't see good and evil as being diametric opposites.

.​

The problem with such definitions is that you have no ontological basis for deciding what is "preferred." What is wickedness?

However, once you understand that there is a Creator, then there is no confusion.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The problem with such definitions is that you have no ontological basis for deciding what is "preferred." What is wickedness?

However, once you understand that there is a Creator, then there is no confusion.

Or perhaps we imagine God as a way of reifying godliness and infer place, good and evil.

In any event, let me yet again offer Wilson's (2 part) The Biological Basis of Morality ...