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Re: So, we need a topic...Lets try this?

Posted By: Seraph (adsl-66-120-163-45.dsl.sntc01.pacbell.net)
Date: 5/24/2003 at 7:15 p.m.

In Response To: Re: So, we need a topic...Lets try this? (Gothmog)

: on a similar note, is is possable, that the leveler, and
: all "evil" affiliates, are not really evil,
: but are actually good, because his appearance keeps
: the human race unified against him, and therefore
: prevents them from waring against each other, so that
: people do not just go to war with each other, because
: people in general do not seem to coexist peacefully.

: Gothmog

As someone with an unforunate tendancy to moral absolutes (not a "Us versus them" so much as believing there -is- absolute evil, and that sometimes it exists on earth to a certain degree.) I personally think that a "nessacery evil" is a contradiction in terms. That seems to be what you are saying the Leveller is, as I read it.

Regarding what Martel said...I respect that, I intellectually agree largely with that, but I simply don't think its true.

I agree that evil should not be used as an excuse to do evil to the evil person, but in saying that, we again argue there is evil, in the sense of wrong doing...
There are good, generally benevolent and benign things in the universe. (Presumably...the cynic in me is kicking and screaming at the thought)
There are also evil, generally malevolent and not benign things in the universe.

I think it is safe to say this, if we agree murder is bad, murderers, generally, not always, but generally...are evil.
Same with rapists or theives or whatever.
I don't think it excuses doing another evil deed (Perhaps the death penalty is itself murder, and thus we [the people] are commiting a crime ourselves.) but, it does mean that is something wrong in which the "good" thing to do is to somehow change, improve, and if there is no other choice, elimate.

It is a question of -what- is right and wrong, in my mind, not a question of if there is good or evil, just what they are, and what the non-evil response to the actions of evil is.

I do not think that because someone is evil I am justified in violating my principles to destroy/defeat/change them.
In doing so, I, myself, am evil, as I see it.

Thank you both for your statements. I love a good mental workout...glad to get the chance to do one.

Seraph

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