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Perhaps evil is simply the storage of anything.
If you think about it, once we deem that we "own" something and wish to use that something at some further point, we incorporate laws to "protect" our possessions.
But if nobody owned anything nor tried to posses it for later use, than outside of physical violence, would evil exist?
people would turn to 'themselves' for ownership.
you know... like the body and soul [img]graemlins/sure.gif[/img]
Ownership equals containment. We may believe we "own" our body or sould because it appears that is where we are contained.
Psychological violence catering to humankinds sadistic nature?
Possesion doesnt count here as it is simply the pleasure derived from inflicting pain upon someone else......
.... gone too far... ehem
DonCione
hey don, thanks for replying....
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">hmmmmm.... dunno....Quote:
Originally posted by DonCione:
Psychological violence catering to humankinds sadistic nature?
does evil really have to constitute violence?
i can, for example, manipulate/sabotage a
coworker's efforts in order to be picked for a
promotion over that person... there really isn't
any violence... sadistic? hmmm, maybe.... but is
competition sadistic? i suppose to some degree...
however, i think to some people, this manipulation/sabotage
could be considered 'evil'
Competition to prove your superiority over those around you and in doing so make them seem weaker is sadistic...
like a bad winner gloating...
Evil doesnt have to include violence you are right, i was just choosing an example. But then if we categorise merely the thoughts of causing harm as evil then the number of 'good' people in the world suddenly drops by about 90% lol.
I'd agree that sabotaging a co-worker/rival for your personal gain would be evil, but then thats the entire basis of modern Western capitalism isnt it? lol. Instead of relying upon personal qualities and skills we cheat our way to top, stealing, mud-slinging and polluting as we go.
I dont think all violence is evil, but i do know that even when justified people often take a subtle pleasure in exerting their will over someone elses, either violently or through the threat of it. Conclusion would appear that we're all evil, which seems to fit the bill.
DonCione
"I'd agree that sabotaging a co-worker/rival for your personal gain would be evil, but then thats the entire basis of modern Western capitalism isnt it? lol. Instead of relying upon personal qualities and skills we cheat our way to top, stealing, mud-slinging and polluting as we go."
probably why I can't get to the top then [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/angel.gif[/img]
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">heh heh... its so trueQuote:
Originally posted by DonCione:
Evil doesnt have to include violence you are right, i was just choosing an example. But then if we categorise merely the thoughts of causing harm as evil then the number of 'good' people in the world suddenly drops by about 90% lol.
(but don't you think 90% is a bit generous?
i'd go as far as to say 96% [img]tongue.gif[/img] )
Personally i would've said 100% but i didnt want to offend, lol,
So i left a 10% gap for us all to parcel ourselves into to salve our consciences.
Im just very tired of the Homonculus view of evil as a separate entity/force/will that we succumb to. For many centuries we created a devil or evil spirits that put these thoughts in our heads and weapons in our hands and we shirked the responsibilities of our own wrong-doings.
i can simplify evil........... humankind.
Because except for a few exceptions we are the only creatures who dont kill/maim for survival alone.
DonCione
i think that 'humankind' is a bit broad...
as i was thinking deeply about your comments.
while i agree that we alone kill for reasons
beyond survival... this is a trait that includes
(as you said) all of us (whether we openly admit
it or not).
at first i thought it was a flaw of 'reason'...
reason being the next *failed* step nature has
issued just beyond 'clever' (as many animals
are clever... brainstorming and employing certain
*human* mechanics to overcome problems)....
however *our* reason -- the deft ability to
place oneself beyond oneself -- seems to have
been skewed... but i can't assume that this is
a minor error because i truly believe it is within
all of us homosapiens....
so that leaves me to question...
perhaps 'reason'... is an end-all. meaning...
since reason gives its owner the power above
cleverness... to ensure survival... it necessitates
that there would (may??) be no natural enemies.
so why not also throw in the quality to turn
reason against ourselves?
You seem to be suggesting that human reason/free will (if we want to apply it to religious contexts) is an in-built feature that has evolved to check the growth of a species in evolutionary terms. Whilst this seems possible, i think it might be reaching too far to find reason in the way we kill each other on a regular basis. We're not, after all, reasonable creatures. And whilst as a method of natural selection it does seem to be effective, nature is not one to entrust gene pool survival based upon a possible tendency for us to self-regulate.
But an interesting possibility, nonetheless,
DonCione
I am thread-killer...
....hear me roar...
DonCione
nah... you aren't a thread killer.
i was just hoping someone else could say something
or post a new topic so that i can reply...
as opposed to starting something i already have
a mind about
Well...I believe that Evil is something the world needs, because without it, there would be no good. Ying and Yang, Good and Evil...same difference. I think Evil can be anything, from Micheviousness, to Chaos, to Violence, or any Negative energy beings possess. When I hear people whining about Evil, I automatically think "Uninformed." But...while Good and Evil exist, the balance must be equal. Sometimes the pendilum swings somewhat, but in most cases, things tend to even out.
Evil, to me...isn't a bad thing. I like evil, I do evil things all the time. But can I really be called an Evil person? I don't think so, but other people have said otherwise. It's like with Dogs. There are some smart dogs, and some dumb dogs. I think some people are born with it. But while someone may be born with it, this seed or evil doesn't necessarily take root. So, I believe people are born with the ability to be evil, and outward influence dictates whether that seed sprouts or not.
Satan
Well...I believe that Evil is something the world needs, because without it, there would be no good. Ying and Yang, Good and Evil...same difference. I think Evil can be anything, from Micheviousness, to Chaos, to Violence, or any Negative energy beings possess. When I hear people whining about Evil, I automatically think "Uninformed." But...while Good and Evil exist, the balance must be equal. Sometimes the pendilum swings somewhat, but in most cases, things tend to even out.
Evil, to me...isn't a bad thing. I like evil, I do evil things all the time. But can I really be called an Evil person? I don't think so, but other people have said otherwise. It's like with Dogs. There are some smart dogs, and some dumb dogs. I think some people are born with it. But while someone may be born with it, this seed of evil doesn't necessarily take root. So, I believe people are born with the ability to be evil, and outward influence dictates whether that seed sprouts or not.
Satan
The world would be a boring place without evilness. Think about how boring everything would be if there was no evil. Movies are already bad enough, they would be so much worse without a villian.
There was an essay thing somewhere that was about the meaning of evil. Damn good essay, I should go look for it and post a few of the good segments.
Oh yes, the world would be totally boring, I agree. It's pretty bad when the good guys always win in the movies, but think...what if there WAS NO BAD GUY! AHH! I can't take the pressure!
Great point BetaRabbit!
Satan
Why, thank you Satan. I'm glad at least one person on this message board doesn't think I am an idiot.
Quite welcome, BetaRabbit. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
Satan
Please check out my Board!
The Darkness Within Us
http://www.hostboard.com/cgi-bin/ult...b/forum/f/7625
<font color="#6699ff" size="1">[ November 16, 2003 09:00 PM: Message edited by: ? SatansNightOut ? ]</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can u plz find that essay on Evil.....Quote:
Originally posted by BetaRabbit:
The world would be a boring place without evilness. Think about how boring everything would be if there was no evil. Movies are already bad enough, they would be so much worse without a villian.
There was an essay thing somewhere that was about the meaning of evil. Damn good essay, I should go look for it and post a few of the good segments.
In the Bible it says God created Good and Created Evil.....So all u nice Religious People better give up battling against God's creation....
Suppose he created it so we wouldnt turn into bores [img]biggrin.gif[/img] evil
That's two! Wahooo! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
hey new person..... thanks for postin [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
i wish i knew how to respond to it... i dunno
how you mean it. this part in particular:
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">isn't it bad enough that god created a spotQuote:
In the Bible it says God created Good and Created Evil.....So all u nice Religious People better give up battling against God's creation....
on our backs that we can't reach??? isn't that
entertaining?
[img]redface.gif[/img]
btw... i reeeeeeeeeeeally like your avatar [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]
(and beta, i don't think you are an idiot!!!)
It's gone. Went back to the same place and it is no longer there. [img]graemlins/grrr.gif[/img] [img]mad.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]
whats gone??
That little essay. I went to the website where I had found it. I was going to copy/paste it over here, but it was removed already. [img]mad.gif[/img]
OH!!!!
well that blows.
maybe you could give a jist?