The root of all evil?
 

Maybe we're all just scum and predisposed towards being evil (I know I am: see my music tastes if you don't believe me) but assuming there is an underlying reason or reasons for such behaviour, and discounting psychos who just kill for the fun or thrill of it, what would you consider the principle reason people commit evil acts? And before anyone like Batty asks, let's say murder, rape, violence against children, hate crimes - anything that could be generally characterised and categorised by most right-thinking and sane people as being evil?

I voted for power. Power over others usually seems to be the main motivator.

To me, it's a tossup between money and religion but a lot of good can come out of religion (Feeding the hungry, that sort of thing). There doesn't seem to be anything that comes to any good when it comes to greed. Money is why we're in the climate crisis that we're in presently for example.

I think none of these things are the root of evil, they are just means through which evil is brought out. Without money, people would also act greedy and exploitative, for instance

It's selfishness. It's built into every organism and influences them in some way. It's why male lions will kill a lioness' children, to remove future competition and make her fertile again quicker so she can help him sire his own children. It's why the cuckoo chick will try to push its step siblings from the nest or why a rat mom may eat the runt of the litter.

Life is competitive and the genes that we have today are the ones that managed to ensure their own survival by putting themselves first, the ones they rely on second and everyone else behind.

From this perspective, humans are actually extremely nice. Cooperation is something we're extraordinarily good at.

Ignorance.

I'd say power is #1, but it's close.

Selfishness is up there. The person who drives like a slalom skiier on the highway causes a pileup. Can you really call it an accident? I say the person meant to do it.

Of course religion plays a part.

There's the social aspect of it too. The sick person who can't afford their treatment. The person who has hit financial rock bottom.

For some, it's almost hereditary. Violence often begets violence.

yeah I'd argue with you on that one, Guybrush. What animals do is in their nature: they can no more control it than the sun can stop spinning around the Earth (sssh! They're already watching us! Act normal - ooh! Look at this lovely non-banned and approved religious text! How interesting!) - they have not the capacity to stop and say "meh, will I kill that other lion? What are the ramifications if I do? You know, maybe I won't: the guy has enough troubles already with those six cubs of his and his lioness always wanting the best gazelle at her table."

Humans are the only ones who can consciously decide to be evil, so it's I think unfair to equate our freedom of choice with the natural instincts of an animal, who does what it has to survive and endure.

I'd also like to point out that language is another reason for someone being evil. My provincial neighbours are doing some evil things over the French language of all things. Sacrament!

I'm leaning towards 'desire' as the closest thing to a good answer. For the purposes of the poll I'll go with 'other', though it's really more like 'all of the above'