Re: Philosophy: People born good or evil?
Originally posted by hh?
John Locke said people were born good. Thomas Hobbes was against that idea and said that people were born evil. They were not always disagreeing. They both agree on the idea of a Social Contract. ill add more info later...maybe. 🙂
I really can't answer that question. I mean, first of all good and evil are both concepts entirely exclusive to humans. Second, that would all depend on your own definition of each. I mean, everyone is born with natural human instincts that could be seen as evil. People are violent etc. But, is it necessarily evil or all in the interest of self-preservation?
Wow, reading back over that it doesn't make sense even to me. Ah well. I'm posting it anyway. Who said I was a philosopher?
Originally posted by h0ck3yh0rr0r
John Locke said people were born good. Thomas Hobbes was against that idea and said that people were born evil. They were not always disagreeing. They both agree on the idea of a Social Contract. ill add more info later...maybe. 🙂
People aren't 'born' anything. Neither good nor evil. 'Good' and 'evil' are terms of opinion. Can you honestly define any human as good? No one is clear of, hmm.. wrong-doings, for lack of a better word.
We develop habits and traits in time, through experience of life itself. No one is automatically born with a certain mindframe you can narrowly label 'good' or 'evil'. We are all born with the power of choice, to choose each step we take in life, and these can't be defined at birth. It plainly contradicts our power of choice.
Good and evil coexist with each other - you cannot have one without the other, and both are subjective.
A cruel murderer could have an immense love for his wife, children, mother and family - an unconditional love a strong bond, so can this person be considered evil?
Like Tassie said, we are not born 'good' or 'evil' - we acquire those as we live.
People are neither born good nor evil. What a peculiar idea. A newborn is all instincts and needs, and is neither planning to take over the world nor become the next saint.
The idea that people are born good/evil is just a bad excuse from bad parents, who failed to raise their kids properly “Ah, but she/he was ALWAYS a bad apple.”
Some people are born with mental defects or chemical imbalances but that’s another story. Like a psychologist said the other day on national TV, no normal sane person is capable of committing cold-blooded murder.
So I suppose “pure” evil is simply a mental defect. Makes you wonder what “pure” good is, hm? 🙂
Originally posted by The Omega
Like a psychologist said the other day on national TV, no normal sane person is capable of committing cold-blooded murder.
So I suppose “pure” evil is simply a mental defect. Makes you wonder what “pure” good is, hm? 🙂
So are you suggesting that our ancient ancestors have mental defect? Or are we just evolved?
To be good or evil, all goes down to principles... Nonetherless, a beserk man would do almost anything to ease his anger in certain circumstances...
Originally posted by kevdude
People are inherently born self depraved of knowing God. It was sin that creep into our hearts that pushed us away. It is because of this is why we feel alone and will someday die, this is why Christ was sent.
There are thousands of gods that man had imagined, which one are you talking about?
People die because if we didn't die there would not be enough resources for future generations. This would lead to all life dieing.
We feel alone because of attachments.
With respect to the poll, I think it was probably Socrates/Plato who first put forth the idea that humans were inherently good. Or at the very least geared towards it. Happens in the Meno, IIRC.
I'm inclined to think that humans aren't born good or evil, but our natures are geared towards seeking out the good. How we go about doing that, and what we define as good, leads some people down what society might call 'evil' paths.
Originally posted by Enyalus
With respect to the poll, I think it was probably Socrates/Plato who first put forth the idea that humans were inherently good. Or at the very least geared towards it. Happens in the Meno, IIRC.I'm inclined to think that humans aren't born good or evil, but our natures are geared towards seeking out the good. How we go about doing that, and what we define as good, leads some people down what society might call 'evil' paths.
👆
People are not good or evil, but follow paths that are good or evil. However, good and evil are not absolutes, so one man's good maybe another man's evil.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
However, good and evil are not absolutes, so one man's good maybe another man's evil.
Well, on the first part I disagree. For instance, I don't give a damn if your culture says its okay to throw battery acid in your wife's face or have your sister raped in the street because she isn't wearing a veil. That's wrong.
And if your culture says its wrong to help the weak and the poor because only the strong must survive or they don't have blue eyes and blond hair, yet someone decides to help them out anyway. That's right.
In my opinion there are absolutes of good and bad. How we interpret/get at them in this world is another matter, seeing as how there is no empirical example of 'Good' or 'Evil' in reality which we can point to, look at, and know conclusively.
Originally posted by Enyalus
Well, on the first part I disagree. For instance, I don't give a damn if your culture says its okay to throw battery acid in your wife's face or have your sister raped in the street because she isn't wearing a veil. That's wrong.And if your culture says its wrong to help the weak and the poor because only the strong must survive or they don't have blue eyes and blond hair, yet someone decides to help them out anyway. That's right.
In my opinion there are absolutes of good and bad. How we interpret/get at them in this world is another matter, seeing as how there is no empirical example of 'Good' or 'Evil' in reality which we can point to, look at, and know conclusively.
You are proving my point. What is evil to you is good to other people. People go to war because of being locked into a view of what good and evil is to them.