Preserved Topic: Good, Evil, Yards of Nine and a Silver Spoon (Page 1 of 1)

So.... Opinions....

Is it possible for a person to be born evil? What about good? Or are we born neither good nor evil and simply develop certain tendancies through environment and circumstance? Does one's initial station in life pre-determine him/her towards a given path of good or ill? What about genetics? Do you think some people inherit a predisposition towards one side or the other? I know alchoholism, diseases, personality traits can be inherited. But what about the broader aspects of good and evil?

Witherin

Witherin: You are assuming that good and evil actually exist and are quantifiable

Emps

As of course we all know they do and are!

Generally speaking, I believe we are born as blank slates... amoral. I believe environment and circumstance account for the majority of which way we to go.

I do not discount the effects of genetics but only in as much as genetics is just one more of those factors that push us in one direction or the other. I don't think they determine our morality.

If I had to weight environment verses genetics, I would probably say about 90/10.

. . : newThing

The effort I have to expend to be good would lead me to believe that at least I am evil...

Nope. Good, evil, it is all the same thing...just viewed from different perspectives....c'mon Bugs, you know that...

I am a firm believer that we (as individuals) decide with our actions (and reactions to experiences) what we are...

i disagree, i think there IS an absolute good and evil that we tend to ignore (that's also coming from a christian bias). are some things gray? sure, but i think for the most part we make more things gray than really need to be.

and i agree with bugs as far as genetics/environment, i think what we're taught has a huge effect on how we view right/wrong.

chris


KAIROSinteractive

Even if that was so Fig, which is then which? From a third party standpoint, one might say 'that is good, and the other evil' whereas another would say the opposite...therefore, since something can't truly be two things at once *poof!* there is no 'good' or 'evil', just perceptions of the same thing....to one a box, to another a container...different words (descriptions, etc) for the same thing.

There is no such thing as "pure good" or "pure evil". Good and evil are only names put upon actions by society. One society may believe something is good, while another condemn it. For example is cannibalism...



-= Veneficuz =-
"Mundus vult decipi. Ergo decipiatur."

... and penis enlargement.

DigitalUbiquity

OK, folks, I think it's time to set the record straight: I am pure evil. Don't let the halo fool you.

Nurse! Another case that needs the shock treatment! 'Man, the looneys are rowdy today...'

Your hate will only make me stronger! Muhwahwahwa!

Zzzzzt! Zzzzzt!

Ah, invigorating!

i think that the one evil guy was made by enviroment ...because he didnt really know what the evil concept is ,
the people and the enviroment make him form this concept...

I also agree that there is some kinds of evil gene in a people body ,

when the gene is evoked by the enviroment factor,evil come....

enviroment ,genetics,...they form the reason

only one of them cant explain it clear.

i love beatles

WebShaman, "a third party standpoint" is exactly how C.S.Lewis argued the existence of God. Very briefly, it went like this, all humans regardless of culture seem to agree on some very basic "rights" and "wrongs". Therefore, there must be a "standard" by which something can be declared right or wrong. The *only* way to have right and wrong is to have something above the system by which to compare the actions in question.

I got the distinct impression, that you thought ripping was "wrong". Are you telling me that it really isn't? Why should anyone stop ripping if that is the case?

Emps, I learned about Albert Fish from you. Were his actions neither good nor evil?

[edit]just to be sure those questions are meant in the most honest and curious way with zero disrespect to either of you [/edit]

[This message has been edited by Bugimus (edited 05-09-2002).]

heh, bugs, you actually nailed the reference i was going to use

chris


KAIROSinteractive

Well, Bugs, that is really easy to explain (and no, I didn't take that wrong...no hard feelings here...)

Because 'ripping' is a human thing, it has nothing to do with 'good' or 'evil' - it's 'wrong' if you will, because it 'harms' the hard work of another artist...this was one of the reasons why I decided to post my thread over ripping in the general forum...

Many of the up-and-coming 'rip-kiddies' don't see it as being 'wrong'. The perception is changing....and if we don't take a stand, will become the way of the future...from their perspective, we are wrong to persue them for 'ripping'...so, you see, it is just a matter of perception...the question is, which perception will win out...and I choose to do something about it now, before it is too late...and I believe that is the spirit of the Asylum, to lead by example, be honest, learn, share...the question is, do they believe in that? Recent examples tend to dispute that...and that is alarming, if you ask me. I have seen threads where 'rippers' have proudly anounced their ripping, even taking pleasure in the deed. In doing so, they set examples for others to continue this 'trend'.

However, I believe that many are underestimating the situation here...the attitude that 'ripping' is not 'wrong' is growing...just take a look at the many other boards out there...most now have a 'rip' area, to persue these things...in response to the growing crowds of 'rip-kiddies' and companies...that wouldn't be the case if the matter hasn't become commonplace...we are just 2000+, against how many millions...

In the face of such, if we wish to be against 'ripping', then we need to form a way to 'link' all boards together that are against 'ripping', therefore 'increasing' our presence...sharing 'rip' information amongst us...a 'united front', if you will...or just ignore it, let it grow...and eventually, join the crowd...or become isolated from the mainstream...

Forgive my dribbeling...I feel very strongely on the issue...but don't get me wrong...I am against ripping...I don't particularly care if one sees it as 'right' or 'wrong'...it damages the original artist...and is stealing...and must be fought. Just my opinion.

So you see, yes, that does 'pass' with my philosophy....

Bugs: No disrespect there - its an honest question.

Was Albert Fish evil? Only in the broadest sense that his actions were way beyond the acceptables norms of our society. He was sick and perverted and quite possible a psychotic sociopath.

What about Neilsen and Dahmer? Killing for company? Very (very) disturbed individuals and in a way sad and pathetic - are they evil? Some might say yes some no - is that just because they seem less menacing? There crimes were in ways even more awful than Fishes.

What about Bundy and West?

What about societies were it is approved that you hunt down your enemy and eat them? The above individuals are clearly deeply disturbed so that they break the most basic laws of our society but what if society approved of canabalism?

I still say it is all relative (I just may not have explained myself very well).

Emps