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Evil
What is evil? Is it a "pure" concept, something you can explain, try to defeat, or, if you're that way inclined, revel in? Or is it merely an excuse for men and women to do horrible things? Are certain people born evil, without any chance of redemption, unable to change their ways, or do people react to their circumstances and environment, and "become" evil? Is there evil in is all? Is Man innately evil, and do we just resist or submerge the evil within us? Does "good" exist, and if it does, and can be quantified, is it the natural enemy of evil, or is this too pat a description? Does it make it too easy to call people who do things we abhor evil, rather than trying to understand their motives?
Or does evil truly exist? Do you believe in the Devil? Are there such things as completely evil people, or is redemption possible for everyone if they want it? Do we need evil, in order to have something to struggle against, and, looked at from someone else's, completely different or even opposite point of view, can we ourselves be regarded, or seen as evil? Would you like to live in a world totally free of evil, if such a thing were possible? And conversely, what would it be like, do you think, to live in a world where there was only evil, where what we see as evil was the norm? Would it even be evil, if it was the status quo? And if the last sentence is true, can we then say that the nature of evil is fluid, dependent on what we think it is, and that it and good can even be, in certain circumstances, interchangeable? |
I just made a call to the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four because this thread is true evil.
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He can stretch really far. |
Yes I believe that evil exists. Next!
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It’s a worthwhile philosophical question
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I don't use that word about the real world very often. Usually there's either mental illness or some kind of misguided intent behind "evil" actions. Breivik, for example, imagined himself to kill all of those young people for the sake of his country.
Maybe I'm thinking of real evil as requiring a high level of sadism. But then again, evil is not synonymous with cruelty, so I'm not sure how I'd say what evil is to me. Like I said, I rarely use the word about anything real-world applicable. I guess I think of "evil" as more of a cackling movie villain thing, as well as a thing that's often closely tied to religious descriptions of the world. |
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I've plenty to say about this, but hell, if nobody else is going to take it seriously I'm not bothering. I guess I'll see who, if anyone, actually tries to have a conversation/debate here instead of just making stupid jokes, as seems to be the norm. Why did I even bother to stay, I ask myself? |
It's just kind of surface level and is already heavily treaded ground imo.
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I can't wrap my head around philosophy and psychology right now - or even that well in general. There's good discussion about music often enough. Other subjects are hit and miss :laughing: |
Evil is a relative concept. That's really the most I'll say about it.
Troll, the name you picked for the thread was a stupid name if you wanted people to take it seriously. No one is going to take it seriously when there is a comedic character like Dr. Evil in existence. |
Evil.
The thread. Wooga booga. |
The idea of evil through history is an interesting enough subject, but I don't feel like I've got much to say about it. I've never sat down and actually read a book about it, but I imagine a good one could be written by some historian, philosopher, theologian or anthropologist author. There's probably several good ones out there already.
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Can't imagine anything good being written by a theologian.
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I think religious ideas can be very interesting if taken from more of a history/philosophy perspective. I'm an atheist through and through, but I like it as a topic - and not just to debunk it. Religion has had an insurmountably huge impact on human civilization throughout history. Even from the pen of a theologian, there can be a great deal of value said if you want to understand religion and religious people - which is arguably to understand humans to a large extent.
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Frownland's niceties are evil.
Batlord's farts are evil. Trollheart's threads are pure evil. Elphenor's politics are evil. Oriphice is evil incarnate. Plankton's dolf game is evil. OH masturbates to evil. Chula thinks evil is:ˈēvəl/ adjective adjective: evil 1. profoundly immoral and malevolent. Okay, im bored now. It's not a word I've ever used or thought much about tbh. Seems hyperbolic.. and whenever I hear it used it always seems like a better or more accurate descriptor could have taken it's place. "F*cked up" is my go to. |
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The inherent question that everyone's ignoring or missing here is: why are certain things considered evil? Is it because of our religious upbringing? Is it because we're conditioned to accept it is? Is it because the majority, back in the mists of time, said it was? And what happens if that definition, the acceptance of what is evil changes? If Hitler had won WWII or, if that's a tired concept (and of course it is) say ISIS succeed at some point in making this Earthistan, a global Islamic caliphate. Things that seem, and are, evil to us will not be so to them, and so the whole concept of evil may, over time, change. Execution for blasphemy? Evil now, here, yes. Under ISIS? We may learn to change our minds and accept that maybe it isn't. The rules are set by those in charge, so what if those in charge decided evil was ok? Look at the Purge movies. Sure, they're fantasy, but don't they demonstrate that, on some level, we only don't do evil because we're not allowed to, because we'll be punished if we do? If the penalty is removed, if we can kill, rape etc, is it still evil? Is government-sponsored murder on a wide scale evil? Of course it is. But why? What makes it evil, and who says it is? It can all be a matter of perspective, as I hinted in the OP which everyone chose to ignore or laugh at. The Crusaders believed they were on God's work but the Moors and the people they butchered saw them as evil. Islam seems Christianity and any other religion as evil, for a long time Christianity was the same. Yeah, I know: **** religion. I agree. But it just shows that one man's perception of evil can be another's idea of good. So I think there's a lot to discuss, including how certain things, actions, ideas came to be seen as evil, and what the very nature of evil itself is. You know, it's a real pity. There are some incredibly intelligent people here - I don't count myself as one of them - and I've seen unbelievably deep and profound arguments discussed and debated in threads here, so it's sad that everyone is just passing up this opportunity to have a proper philosophical discussion, and would rather just laugh at my thread. But fine, do that: maybe we should intensely debate what the best cereal is, or who has the finest ass in music. I just thought it might be nice to use those juicy chess club brains some of you have, and debate something worthwhile. Obviously not. I'll let you all get on with your day now. I have a new printer to set up anyway. |
Evil is as relative as any other subjective descriptor.
As far as this thread goes, it's a little too broad to generate discussion and the direction that you tried to push it in is a very old question that's honestly not that interesting. Quit acting so sanctimoniously victimized at the response to your thread, it's obnoxious and you're better off trying to spark up new topics of discussion when your first swipe in an ambiguous thread such as this isn't successful. |
Here’s an attempt at functional definitions
Good- that which works toward alleviating all suffering and creating the ultimate state of bliss for all living things Evil- that which works toward maximizing the total amount of suffering of all living things |
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With all my apathetic heart.
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Evil is Josef Fritzl.
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Walls of text are the truest evil of all.
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Lord Lare is evil incarnate. Ori has been demoted.
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If you need an alibi after you're done let me know. |
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I also got enough Vienna sausages in my pantry to feed us both for a lifetime, i got you covered. |
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