Such words as “good” and “evil” fly around us every day. “The axis of Evil” being just one of them.
But what IS evil? And what is good? Does the good THOUGHT really count, or is it the actions that are good and/or evil?
Comments?
__________________ "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
-Voltaire
"That includes ruining Halloween because someone swallowed a Bible."
"I just thought you were a guy."
"... Most guys do."
e·vil ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vl)
adj. e·vil·er, e·vil·est
Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.
n.
The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction: a leader's power to do both good and evil.
An evil force, power, or personification.
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction: the social evils of poverty and injustice
Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
Jeez, guys, you all went running for a dictionary.
I don't think Omega asked for the definition of the word evil, not gramatically anyway.
"Does the good THOUGHT really count, or is it the actions that are good and/or evil?" - The Omega
This question in particular brought to mind images of what friends or family would perhaps say as a consequence of my doing something despicable; isn't it usually along the lines of "I'm sure she had the best intentions", or "I'm certain she had our best interests at heart"? This only cuts it up to a certain age, a five year old's "I never meant to!!" over a broken vase stands up much stronger than an adult's "I didn't mean to". It's a factor of growing up.
People tend to assume, in most cases, that the wrong-doer perhaps had good intentions initially, but it all went wrong. Which is ridiculous. How can a serial killer, or a peadophile even, ever have the best intentions??
IMO it is the action and subsequent consequences that matter the most, as they are more likely to be remembered than the sinner's original plan.
what you are saying about the serial killer doesn't really in my opinion account for what you are saying about good intentions. the serial killer means to kill some one. a grandparent who buys their grandchild a toy for their birthday, but when the kid plays with it, it cuts the child or injures him/her in some way, the grand parent did not intionaly give the child this toy so that they would get hurt, but so the kid could have a good time. that is more of a good intetion.
I believe that the true meaning of evil goes a lot deeper into that definition. It's hard to define it, but we all know it, sometimes better than others. I believe that hurting someone for the pleasure of it is true evil. Serial killers are evil. I'm not for sure if evil doers are born evil, but I think that deep inside they are.
sin
1. A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.
2. Theology.
a. Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.
b. A condition of estrangement from God resulting from such disobedience.
3. Something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or utterly wrong.
Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
Did you all miss this on purpose or something?
IMO, it's probably the most original answer in the thread so far, you have to hand it to him, he's got ingenuity.
Although, he did tell me via MSN earlier that he'd linked it up to my profile, where-as here it leads to someone else's. Now, either he lied, or he hot-footed it back here after confessing and amended it. Liar or chicken, you decide.......
And Nazzy, as much as it pains me to say it, I think you're right. I re-read my previous statement and even I disagree with what I said. I think I must have worded it wrong, because I don't like what I've written. My bad
He set out to kill as many Jews as possible simply because they didn't fit into his mind's eye view of perfection, so he decided to exterminate as many of them as possible. Not only this, but if any of his own people disagreed with him out loud, they were killed as well.
I'm sorry, but this is factually, evil.
I think evil is intentionally doing something that will cause harm or death to another person, regaurdless of common sense telling you it's wrong. There are several scopes of evil I think. A lesser evil would be a bully. He beats up people despite knowing he shouldn't. He's not hugely evil, but his actions can be considered evil to some small extent to someone or another. Then there's larger evils, like rapists, murderers and such, and of course there are many in between.
Then there are assholes like Hitler, who's so evil he makes satan shake is head in disgust.
I disagree with BF's first statement (yes disagreeing with BF can be done ) You can't just categorize a person as evil, because I don't believe pure evil exists, everyone has good thoughts once in a while, Hitler although clearly a crazed lunatic, was not viewed to be evil then, and there had to have been a part of him with even an ounce of good.
I think it has to do with perspective, what we see as good or bad, everyone has different ideas towards this, and something "evil" to us, may not be that way to others, therefore everyone has a different definition for evil, and there is no true answer to what it is.
To me evil is doing something intentionally when you know it is wrong. I think we are instilled with morals from birth, where we know what is good and what is bad, right and wrong, we learn from those around us, you know the drill "Don't take what isn't yours, or don't push your sister, etc etc.". Knowing fully well you are doing something you were taught is wrong is evil in my opinion.
And as stated before, ideas can be considered "evil." Ideas and thoughts lead to actions.
KMC Community Forums
Jul 9th, 2004 04:50 PM
