Forums Loading, stand by... HOME

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

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

Posted By: Martel (195.110.114.232)
Date: 5/26/2003 at 12:03 p.m.

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

: 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.

Hm. Perhaps it would help if you made your own, personal definition of the word 'evil'. Personally, I try to avoid it generally, because so many people who use the word have very little idea exactly what they're talking about. If you were to push me, I'd define 'evil' as 'generally disposed to act in favour of oneself rather than in favour of others'. Under which definition a heck of a lot of us could be classed as evil. But hey, there you have it. Hm. And I think there's a line somewhere in 'Wicked' that goes something along the lines of 'In general, people who acknowledge themselves to be evil are morally better than quite a large number who consider themselves to be good'.

: 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.

Heh. Vigante Jesus! He goes out in the dead of night to hunt down the wickedest of criminals and forgive them!

: 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.

I wouldn't go so far to say that, but that is a good point. However much governments may preach about not 'taking the law into your own hands', the question still stands: if I'm a legislator who sentences someone to death, is is so much better than if I'd been a vigilante and killed them with my own hands? When you get down to it, the only essential difference is that we're supposed to trust the legislator's judgement more than we trust the vigilante's.

Oh, btw, if you're interested in this kind of stuff, I'd recommend reading 'Wicked' (can't remember the auther. The same guy who did 'Confessions of an ugly stepsister') and/or 'Grunts' by Mary Gentle. Both of which are pretty good books in their own right, as well.

Messages In This Thread

[ View Thread ] [ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

For your own future enjoyment, please report any major forum abusers or cgi errors so we can remedy the problem. If you have any questions email us.

The Asylum

The Asylum is maintained by Myth Admin with WebBBS 5.12.