People are born into a society that is riddled with the public deeds of both good and evil. I believe that every little experience in a persons life alters the outcome of the future, no matter how small or insignificant. People are born innocent and clean and are neutral to their surroundings. However, they are a sponge and depending on what they are fated to be exposed to will determine the nature of their persona. Having said this, I also believe there is a balance in the world and for every good deed done, a negative one must happen. Without this balance we could not exist as a society. Human nature is to strive for the better, to gain control and to archive through suffering and perseverance. How would this be possible in a world of only good? Lastly I would like to ask the definition of an evil person. How many wrong doings puts a person into this category and how can we justify judging them. Only when we know their motives and life experiences can we know what they chose to be evil...
The definition of evil, as I have most commonly seen it exercised by pundants, politicians and the media, is when a person thinks, believes or acts contrary to the beliefs of the person making the assesment. Being an American I'll proceed from the typical views expressed by many Americans. Politicians and religious leaders make haste in using the term evil to describe many people who operate without considering how it will effect American interests. Many Americans call "the terrorists" evil because they "want to destroy America and our way of life". However, in justifying our own actions in response to their actions, we bomb a village and kill 130 innocent civilians. To the families of those people, America has just commited an act of evil. This leads many of them to become "terrorists" because they see our action as evil. To us, they are "terrorists" because they're evil and want to take our freedom, with little consideration of how our actions motivated them. Evil as it is used by most people is often the end result of an entire series of wrongs inflicted on both sides by the other. Evil as it's used in common language is a term to describe anyone that doesn't believe exactly the same as the person pointing the finger. Jesus got this when he talked about casting the first stone. (Although he had a religious overtone to the point he was making) Ghandi too, with his eye for an eye comments.
If I had to personally define evil, the only term I could use to describe it would be total apathy; not caring how our actions effect others or how our lack of action allows others to be harmed.
Originally posted by Ace of Knaves
The definition of evil, as I have most commonly seen it exercised by pundants, politicians and the media, is when a person thinks, believes or acts contrary to the beliefs of the person making the assesment. Being an American I'll proceed from the typical views expressed by many Americans. Politicians and religious leaders make haste in using the term evil to describe many people who operate without considering how it will effect American interests. Many Americans call "the terrorists" evil because they "want to destroy America and our way of life". However, in justifying our own actions in response to their actions, we bomb a village and kill 130 innocent civilians. To the families of those people, America has just commited an act of evil. This leads many of them to become "terrorists" because they see our action as evil. To us, they are "terrorists" because they're evil and want to take our freedom, with little consideration of how our actions motivated them. Evil as it is used by most people is often the end result of an entire series of wrongs inflicted on both sides by the other. Evil as it's used in common language is a term to describe anyone that doesn't believe exactly the same as the person pointing the finger. Jesus got this when he talked about casting the first stone. (Although he had a religious overtone to the point he was making) Ghandi too, with his eye for an eye comments.If I had to personally define evil, the only term I could use to describe it would be total apathy; not caring how our actions effect others or how our lack of action allows others to be harmed.
Nicely put 😉
ez. by the textbook definition, yes. we are "born" evil. how many 1-3 year olds do you see practicing control and strong moral fiber? none of course. but we dont mind so its not a bad thing. then they grow and screw up alot but everyone tries to fit into some form of what they perceive as right, even self-proclaimed even if unaware. the adulthood version of evil however. very lost. people say others are evil out of fear and their own weakness when theyre older.
but born, yeah. or as a differant perspective might put it being natural, because lets face it, trying to become something is only fleeing from who you are to who you are not.
Re: Philosophy: People born good or evil?
Originally posted by Dr. Leg Kick
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. 🙂
You are born an animal, and if not raised would come to behave as such. This would make people view you as evil, because any human who behaves like an animal for a day would go to prison for more than one law violation, so I'm more on Hobbes side than Locke's.
That said, we're born a blank slate, and are shaped by the people around us. It's easier to grow into an evil nature than a good one, because evil is freedom and good is restraint.
Good and Evil
Let me remind you of my quote and i eurge you all to think on this. concerning Good and Evil. "There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell. "There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell.
"There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell."There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell.
Re: Good and Evil
Originally posted by jonjorrellMaybe this discussion is continuing because not everyone regards Keirwan Jon Jorrell to be a god. Speaking of which..... who is Keirwan Jon Jorrell?
Let me remind you of my quote and i eurge you all to think on this. concerning Good and Evil. "There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell. "There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell. [B]"There is no such thing as a good or bad person there are only people with and without opportunity!" this is a direct quote from Keirwan Jon Jorrell. [/B]
provided we don't slide into moral relativism, the answer is clearly "sometimes"
there can't be a specific "theory of evil actions" because there will always be potentially infinite ways that people are motivated to do the things they do, be it by genetic influences, development, or cognitive choice.
though, to the OP, kudos to looking back hundreds of years to theories of human behaviour. Not like, you know, there are many vibrant fields of respectable science these days looking at the motivations and causes of human behaviour. Why not throw in some Freud and Jung? I'm sure their view must still be relevant today...
wait, what...no?... really?
Good is a universal point of view, but each person, nature, and culture has separate ideas about what is “good” and what is “evil." Simply put, those two terms are too 'black and white.'
Instead, I believe every creature, and even every object, is under a natural law that dictates a righteous duty/virtuous path for the way it acts or approaches a situation. This moral code is based on the object's background, experiences, and setting.
For example, a soldier in battle might have to kill somebody. Killing is considered "evil," but the soldier has an ethical duty to fight. This whole concept is called dharma. Another example is that a wall's dharmic duty is to define and protect an area.
I mean, chances are, if somebody performs an "evil" action, it's likely that it transgresses his/her thical duty at that moment.
As to answering the question, no, nobody is born "good" or "evil." It really depends as to what you believe in. If you think each life is completely new, then that life is a blank slate. If you believe in reincarnation, then that life carries the karmas of its past lives.