Define "Evil." Give Parameters.

[oO00Oo]

Anyone "suffering" from Anti-Social Personality Disorder.

Simply existing to cause harm to other people, whether physically, emotionally, or financially for his or her own pleasure.

Master manipulators, as well.

You just described lil queef.

It took his ex a few years to figure it out and dump his ass.

 

[LupusDei]

What...wait...a system can be evil, while every human involved in it is not?

Yes.

My answer is yes, honestly, and I know how paradoxical it may sound, but at least as a borderline case that is possible.

 

[BotanyBoy]

I kind of don't want to talk about this so I might not respond anymore. It really fucks me up really bad. It's not you.

Staring into the void of self is mother fucker of a head job ain't it?

You're not there yet but maybe one day it will start whispering honest things in your ear about what kinda person you really are.



Then you'll be there.

 

[jomar]

But not Stalin, Mao, Hirohito, Pol Pot?

Genghis Khan, whatever bunch of fucked up popes were all about the Inquisition?

Serial killers?

Of course...they and more all have absolutely done evil things. But with them are we back to sadists and narcissists and antisocial personality disorders truly evil in the sense I think your op meant...does a brain disorder define evil? Or is evil a more spiritual thing, intertwined with God and good?

 

[Hal9000_]

Complete lack of empathy and/or value for life.

 

[Peregrinator]

Yes.

My answer is yes, honestly, and I know how paradoxical it may sound, but at least as a borderline case that is possible.

So then...all definitions involving thought, intent, emotion, compassion, etc are irrelevant.

So what is evil?

 

[xfrodobagginsx]

Disobeying the commands of the Lord God of the Bible.

 

[Peregrinator]

Of course...they and more all have absolutely done evil things. But with them are we back to sadists and narcissists and antisocial personality disorders truly evil in the sense I think your op meant...does a brain disorder define evil? Or is evil a more spiritual thing, intertwined with God and good?

Your comment addressed none of this though. Saying "/thread" indicates a definitive answer, a conclusion.

You seem to be suggesting now that Hitler was the only evil thing ever.

I think most people's idea of evil is intertwined with some religious notion. Most of us are culturally conditioned that way. I'm wondering if that and what Bot said are the whole story.

 

[LupusDei]

So then...all definitions involving thought, intent, emotion, compassion, etc are irrelevant.

So what is evil?

Compassion isn't irrelevant. Well, a system can't feel compassion as such, of course, but a system that prohibit compassion is definitely evel.

 

[Peregrinator]

Complete lack of empathy and/or value for life.

All life, or just some?

 

[nowisthetime]

Disobeying the commands of the Lord God of the Bible.

You can go hook up with HelpImLost and read Bible verses every night together in the nude.

 

[Peregrinator]

Disobeying the commands of the Lord God of the Bible.

Like, wearing blended fabrics or not burying your shit while on campaign?

 

[Hal9000_]

All life, or just some?

I would think all. Sociopaths usually get started torturing animals.

 

[Peregrinator]

Compassion isn't irrelevant. Well, a system can't feel compassion as such, of course, but a system that prohibit compassion is definitely evel.

We have laws in some places in the States where it's illegal to feed homeless people.

That seems evil, but there are people who thought of it.

If a system can be evil by itself, as in your claim about Nazis, the evil is not linked to anything human, or the system is evil because of the people.

So what is this quality that a system can exhibit despite its very good or neutral people?

 

[LupusDei]

I would think all. Sociopaths usually get started torturing animals.

Does flies count?

Plankton?

Gut microbes?

 

[Peregrinator]

I would think all. Sociopaths usually get started torturing animals.

But...not plants? Does a predator killing and eating, not just disregarding but destroying a life without compassion or mercy count?

 

[neci]

in an individual, an attachment disorder combined with an intense desire to cause harm that leads to the action of harm against another. the taking of pleasure in the non-consenting harm of another.

in a societal context, it is the disregard of life in search of profit.

the demonization of a group for gain of self or profit.

capitalism.

the mining industry.

those who kill for power.

the placement of oneself above humanity.

i think if you take all the responses and create a visual on canvas, you will end up with a vacant hole that acts as a succubus with a magnetic pull. there is probably a figure 8 of blinding light that bounces in and out of the void, never-ending, constantly increasing in speed.

 

[Hal9000_]

But...not plants? Does a predator killing and eating, not just disregarding but destroying a life without compassion or mercy count?

A Lion eating an Antelope isn't intentionally trying to torture it.

 

[Hal9000_]

Does flies count?

Plankton?

Gut microbes?

Those all have their uses. We know better than to kill off every fly, even though they are annoying.


And maggots are yucky.

 

[Peregrinator]

A Lion eating an Antelope isn't intentionally trying to torture it.

So the torture is the key part. It's not about esteem for life. It's about causing pain.

Edit: cats "playing" with mice before killing them?

 

[Hal9000_]

So the torture is the key part. It's not about esteem for life. It's about causing pain.

Edit: cats "playing" with mice before killing them?

Can animals have esteem for life? Or be "evil"?

If you see a storm approaching, do you get angry at it?

Or seek shelter?

 

[jomar]

Your comment addressed none of this though. Saying "/thread" indicates a definitive answer, a conclusion.

You seem to be suggesting now that Hitler was the only evil thing ever.

I think most people's idea of evil is intertwined with some religious notion. Most of us are culturally conditioned that way. I'm wondering if that and what Bot said are the whole story.

Nah, a joke. Comedy is dangerous.

Not sure what you mean by what Bot said...evil as a construct depending on point of view? I tend to skim.

 

[Peregrinator]

in an individual, an attachment disorder combined with an intense desire to cause harm that leads to the action of harm against another. the taking of pleasure in the non-consenting harm of another.

in a societal context, it is the disregard of life in search of profit.

the demonization of a group for gain of self or profit.

capitalism.

the mining industry.

those who kill for power.

the placement of oneself above humanity.

i think if you take all the responses and create a visual on canvas, you will end up with a vacant hole that acts as a succubus with a magnetic pull. there is probably a figure 8 of blinding light that bounces in and out of the void, never-ending, constantly increasing in speed.

God I love your posting style. There's a lot to unpack in these few lines.

1. What causes "intense desire to do harm?" Is that the evil causing it, or is it a description of the desire? Is the pleasure aspect essential, is evil always a pleasure thing?

2. I'm not sure about this disregard for life thing. Profit is just a way of getting stuff, like hunting or stealing or building. All of which needs must disregard some life. I think you're onto something, but where's the line? Is an artist who sells art with complete disregard for the lives of the animals killed to make art supplies evil? I think not.

3. I think this is evil...but it doesn't help me define evil. Gain of self might be simple self-preservation; see the demonization of Trump supporters by women, lgbtxxx, natives, poc, etc, etc. Is it evil to punch Nazis?

4. Capitalism and the mining industry may be evil, but what makes them evil?

5. I'm not sure who that is. For what power?

6. The option here being complete self effacement? Is it evil until your perspective and life shifts to some kind of coequal arrangement with all of humanity?

7. I would happily purchase such a work.

 

[Peregrinator]

Can animals have esteem for life? Or be "evil"?

If you see a storm approaching, do you get angry at it?

Or seek shelter?

I dunno, man, just exploring your example.

See, if we accept that other animals can't be evil, they're just doing them as nature intended, then we have to find evil a home somewhere either exclusive to the human mind's more complex functions or entirely outside of the human animal and...what is that?

 

[Peregrinator]

Nah, a joke. Comedy is dangerous.

Not sure what you mean by what Bot said...evil as a construct depending on point of view? I tend to skim.

Yeah, pretty much, the idea that evil just means "yuck."