Am I evil?: You decide.

[Yonivore]

That was not a statement of my position. It was merely an attempt at fairly stating and interpreting Darrins.

Sorry.

Okay, where did Darren say that, in Society's view, a theif would be evil?

I don't think he did.

Did you Darren?

[Yonivore]

I would go so far as to say that most societies tend to criminalize what they view as "evil" behavior.

Well, not in America. We tend to criminalize that which violates the rights of the individual or that works against the public good.

Granted there have been hundreds of thousands of laws that deviate from that principle but, none-the-less, that is the general rationale behind law.

That seems to me to be a reasonable statement.

No; not so reasonable at all. Maybe in religious government such as you'll find in the Muslim world but, not in most western nations.

But I did not say that all criminal behavior is inherently evil.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, you pretty much did with that whole "Society views" criminality as evil statement.

[spurster]

Here's a hypothetical for you:


If, by torturing ONE person, you could have prevented 911, thereby preventing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan _AND_ solve the current economic crisis, _AND_ cure your beloved global warming crisis, _AND_ find cures for cancer and AIDS, _AND_ eliminate poverty -- globally, would it be morally justified?

This is an example of using a wishful end to justify the evil means. I would rather base my actions on facts rather than fantasy, but that's just me.

[Yonivore]

Speaking of rationalizing, I have to get back to work.

See you over the weekend, in between bookkeeping appointments perhaps. Sigh.

Have a good weekend.

[Bigzax]

ethics and morals in war?

war is business.

[DarrinS]

This is an example of using a wishful end to justify the evil means. I would rather base my actions on facts rather than fantasy, but that's just me.

From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypothetical

hy⋅po⋅thet⋅i⋅cal

–adjective

1. assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
2. of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
3. given to making hypotheses.
4. Logic. a. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
b. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

–noun
5. a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.

[Extra Stout]

I misunderstood the question. I thought it was asking whether RandomGuy himself is personally evil. He is an accountant by trade, so the answer is "yes."

[Wild Cobra]

How can one not read into the question when torture is not defined in the poll?

I answered yes. However, I haven't heard of any torture by the USA in these last several years by my definition of torture.

[possessed]

Evil only exists within the Christian mind.

[Yonivore]

Evil only exists within the Christian mind.

Then it exists. Just like all human constructs.

But, I think Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and other faiths believe evil exists, as well. I'm betting an athiest would say something is evil -- even if they don't believe so in the "biblical" sense or actually call it evil.

They might call it barbaric or some such.

[spurster]

From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypothetical

hy⋅po⋅thet⋅i⋅cal

–adjective

1. assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.
2. of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.
3. given to making hypotheses.
4. Logic. a. (of a proposition) highly conjectural; not well supported by available evidence.
b. (of a proposition or syllogism) conditional.

–noun
5. a hypothetical situation, instance, etc.: The Secretary of Defense refused to discuss hypotheticals with the reporters.

I'll take definition 4a.

[Nbadan]

Then it exists. Just like all human constructs

...mass psychosis? Many culture believe in opposite forces, not good and evil....Confucious say, ying-and-yang...

[Yonivore]

...mass psychosis? Many culture believe in opposite forces, not good and evil....Confucious say, ying-and-yang...

Not as many as believe in good and evil.

[Nbadan]

...well, technically christianity is a off-spring of these ancient philosophies...

[Yonivore]

...well, technically christianity is a off-spring of these ancient philosophies...

And, technically, the vast majority of human beings believe in good and evil; right and wrong; moral and immoral; just and unjust; etc... What's your point?

[Nbadan]

And, technically, the vast majority of human beings believe in good and evil; right and wrong; moral and immoral; just and unjust; etc... What's your point?

So.....if good versus evil is a human construct then what is eternal damnation?

[Nbadan]

...and it depends RG you may or may-not be evil, but not just because of your actions...you maybe evil because of your intentions...

[Yonivore]

So.....if good versus evil is a human construct then what is eternal damnation?

Everything is a human construct based on our understanding of our existence. Reality is what we interpret it to be from our own experiences.

Who knows what God actually calls good and evil or eternal damnation. He inspired the Word -- He didn't write it. He created Miriam Webster, not the dictionary. He created matter, set in motion physical laws, and started the clock...We fashioned that creation into our world through our own human constructs.

[Yonivore]

...and it depends RG you may or may-not be evil, but not just because of your actions...you maybe evil because of your intentions...

That was my point.

[RandomGuy]

I misunderstood the question. I thought it was asking whether RandomGuy himself is personally evil. He is an accountant by trade, so the answer is "yes."

Well, the one thing an auditor has in common with a torturer is that the subjects always want it to stop and be done with as soon as possible...

[RandomGuy]

...and it depends RG you may or may-not be evil, but not just because of your actions...you maybe evil because of your intentions...

You would agree with Yoni on that point.

He does not ascribe torture to be specifically evil in and of itself.

Scary isn't it?

The poll here though seeks to answer the question whether most people find it reasonable to assume that if you torture somebody you are probably a bit evil.

This becomes relevant to the cost/benefit analysis in the "war" on terror.

[RandomGuy]

Evil only exists within the Christian mind.

[RandomGuy]

That was my point.

"The end justifies the means."

The refrain of tyrants, petty and grand.

[RandomGuy]

Bump.

Because I am sure that most regs have voted, but I would like to get as wide a selection as possible.

[RandomGuy]

Bump. Just to let anybody else vote who wants to.