Definition of evil
Definition of evil
I didn't come up with this (wish I had)
"That's the thing with "evil". People try to make it into some kind of magical substance that only certain people have. It allows them to think "Oh, I would never do things like that. I'm not capable of it. I'm a good person. Only evil people do things like that, people who have evil inside them." That is not what evil is. The root of evil is becoming so locked into your own personal beliefs about reality that you start seeing it as reality. You start thinking you have what's Absolutely Right and Absolutely True, so you then feel justified in harming or punishing other beings for being "wrong"."
"That's the thing with "evil". People try to make it into some kind of magical substance that only certain people have. It allows them to think "Oh, I would never do things like that. I'm not capable of it. I'm a good person. Only evil people do things like that, people who have evil inside them." That is not what evil is. The root of evil is becoming so locked into your own personal beliefs about reality that you start seeing it as reality. You start thinking you have what's Absolutely Right and Absolutely True, so you then feel justified in harming or punishing other beings for being "wrong"."
From the Wiki Article on the Dunning - Kruger Effect...
'The phenomenon was first tested in a series of experiments published in 1999 by David Dunning and Justin Kruger of the Department of Psychology, Cornell University.[1][2] The study was inspired by the case of McArthur Wheeler, a man who robbed two banks after covering his face with lemon juice in the mistaken belief that, because lemon juice is usable as invisible ink, it would prevent his face from being recorded on surveillance cameras.'
Now, that Study inspiration is seriously and tragically funny. Lawdy!
Lots of Int'l Travel, Hitchhiking, Trade Shows, and striking up conversations with about anyone - much to my Wife's amusement - causes me to appreciate the wide range of 'Indisputable Values' held dearly out there.
Good Thread!
Wiki ~ The Dunning - Kruger Effect
-----
'The phenomenon was first tested in a series of experiments published in 1999 by David Dunning and Justin Kruger of the Department of Psychology, Cornell University.[1][2] The study was inspired by the case of McArthur Wheeler, a man who robbed two banks after covering his face with lemon juice in the mistaken belief that, because lemon juice is usable as invisible ink, it would prevent his face from being recorded on surveillance cameras.'
Now, that Study inspiration is seriously and tragically funny. Lawdy!
Lots of Int'l Travel, Hitchhiking, Trade Shows, and striking up conversations with about anyone - much to my Wife's amusement - causes me to appreciate the wide range of 'Indisputable Values' held dearly out there.
Good Thread!
Wiki ~ The Dunning - Kruger Effect
-----
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,476
I didn't come up with this (wish I had)
"That's the thing with "evil". People try to make it into some kind of magical substance that only certain people have. It allows them to think "Oh, I would never do things like that. I'm not capable of it. I'm a good person. Only evil people do things like that, people who have evil inside them." That is not what evil is. The root of evil is becoming so locked into your own personal beliefs about reality that you start seeing it as reality. You start thinking you have what's Absolutely Right and Absolutely True, so you then feel justified in harming or punishing other beings for being "wrong"."
"That's the thing with "evil". People try to make it into some kind of magical substance that only certain people have. It allows them to think "Oh, I would never do things like that. I'm not capable of it. I'm a good person. Only evil people do things like that, people who have evil inside them." That is not what evil is. The root of evil is becoming so locked into your own personal beliefs about reality that you start seeing it as reality. You start thinking you have what's Absolutely Right and Absolutely True, so you then feel justified in harming or punishing other beings for being "wrong"."
How would society function under the above?
I rob you and beat you to a pulp and you wouldn't want me to face any consequences or punishment?
Since it would be evil to cast any judgement upon my acts?
since this paragraph posits the definition of evil is to assert wrong Or right.
It's a nice sentiment, I guess, but terribly impractical for those who aren't 6ft3" and 250lbs
It would supremely define "survival of the fittest"
Better when never is never
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wisconsin near Twin Cities
Posts: 1,745
"That's the thing with "evil". People try to make it into some kind of magical substance that only certain people have. It allows them to think "Oh, I would never do things like that. I'm not capable of it. I'm a good person. Only evil people do things like that, people who have evil inside them."
That is not what evil is. The root of evil is becoming so locked into your own personal beliefs about reality that you start seeing it as reality. You start thinking you have what's Absolutely Right and Absolutely True, so you then feel justified in harming or punishing other beings for being "wrong"."
Pfft! I could do a better study than that and I've never even studied psychology.
Nice one!!! I like to tell my mechanic what is wrong with my car even though I can't change a tire
You would think the guy would test out his theory before he robbed the bank. Maybe a selfish or something.
I can go along with this, even though I don't really believe in evil so much as a "dark" element of the human psyche.
Selfish, delusional, arrogant, judgmental? Yes. Evil? Meh...no. For me, evil would fall along the lines of harming others regardless of what you thought of them either as a result of "getting your own", for perverse enjoyment, or because you are inexplicably compelled. Because evil carries a 'magical' element to it, I don't think that intent is necessary to define evil.
Nice one!!! I like to tell my mechanic what is wrong with my car even though I can't change a tire
You would think the guy would test out his theory before he robbed the bank. Maybe a selfish or something.
I can go along with this, even though I don't really believe in evil so much as a "dark" element of the human psyche.
Selfish, delusional, arrogant, judgmental? Yes. Evil? Meh...no. For me, evil would fall along the lines of harming others regardless of what you thought of them either as a result of "getting your own", for perverse enjoyment, or because you are inexplicably compelled. Because evil carries a 'magical' element to it, I don't think that intent is necessary to define evil.
Hey lbrain, what is with the library shaming?
I tend more and more to see evil the way the Buddhists perceive it as something we create through the 3 poisons: Greed, Anger and Ignorance.
I really liked that little article on the topic
Opinion | Buddhism and Evil
I really liked that little article on the topic
Opinion | Buddhism and Evil
and mine is American Indian What Wolf are you feeding.. look for the evil in man and you will find it.. try looking for the good and most of the time it shines in the right person.. love ardy but kids don't think that I don't have my evil side for I do... see I think you have to look at yourself and say this is Who I am and what I am capable of on both sides.. from the raw to the good.. we have it all... just finding that balance and trying to stay on the right side. of it. mmmmm
Someone who beats and rob you would manifest the three poisons which are at the root of evil:
Greed: they want your money
Ignorance/delusion: they justify their act in their own mind
Anger: they rob you by hitting you instead of let's say lifting your wallet.
Being locked up is the person's consequences for creating suffering (hurting you) not for their delusional thinking that it is ok to rob you because they need the money, they don't like you or whatever. They do not get imprisoned because of evil per se but because their acting up on it carry consequences.
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,476
I think that it is possible to address unacceptable behaviors (robbing and beating) which affect the fabric of our social structure and creates more suffering without putting a moral judgement on it.
Someone who beats and rob you would manifest the three poisons which are at the root of evil:
Greed: they want your money
Ignorance/delusion: they justify their act in their own mind
Anger: they rob you by hitting you instead of let's say lifting your wallet.
Being locked up is the person's consequences for creating suffering (hurting you) not for their delusional thinking that it is ok to rob you because they need the money, they don't like you or whatever. They do not get imprisoned because of evil per se but because their acting up on it carry consequences.
Someone who beats and rob you would manifest the three poisons which are at the root of evil:
Greed: they want your money
Ignorance/delusion: they justify their act in their own mind
Anger: they rob you by hitting you instead of let's say lifting your wallet.
Being locked up is the person's consequences for creating suffering (hurting you) not for their delusional thinking that it is ok to rob you because they need the money, they don't like you or whatever. They do not get imprisoned because of evil per se but because their acting up on it carry consequences.
Suffering is an implied result / judgement of the acts
Unacceptable implies wrong
It's also a judgement to imply motivations such as greed.
If a wolf eats a lamb, it knows nothing of what humans might think of that.
It just is, for the wolf.
Survival.
thrive or die.
The lamb has no "rights" to life so far as the wolf is concerned.
It knows nothing of right / wrong.
However, humans have an expectation of rights.
These rights are upheld by laws and infringement of these rights is punishable.
Everyone on this board sleeps well at night, expecting to awake tomorrow with their house, goods and family intact.
How many would genuinely be capable of enforcing their own rights?
Not many.
Therefore we have laws and people ready to enforce them on our behalf.
So, we are all evil, I guess.
We expect our rights.
Many of us Rural Dwellers can enforce our Rights. I call my Titanium Frame .357 'My Talis_Man'. I spelled that word that way to avoid having it obscured by Site Filters. If I Concealed Carry my .357, I likely won't need it.
As can be confirmed below, that we all are Evil simply does not follow from the Argument posited.
Logical Fallacies ~ Sweeping Generalizations
I refer to this List often when reading on SR.
Logical Fallacies
-----
As can be confirmed below, that we all are Evil simply does not follow from the Argument posited.
Logical Fallacies ~ Sweeping Generalizations
I refer to this List often when reading on SR.
Logical Fallacies
-----
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,476
Many of us Rural Dwellers can enforce our Rights. I call my Titanium Frame .357 'My Talis_Man'. I spelled that word that way to avoid having it obscured by Site Filters. If I Concealed Carry my .357, I likely won't need it.
As can be confirmed below, that we all are Evil simply does not follow from the Argument posited.
Logical Fallacies ~ Sweeping Generalizations
I refer to this List often when reading on SR.
Logical Fallacies
-----
As can be confirmed below, that we all are Evil simply does not follow from the Argument posited.
Logical Fallacies ~ Sweeping Generalizations
I refer to this List often when reading on SR.
Logical Fallacies
-----
So ......"You start thinking you have what's Absolutely Right and Absolutely True, so you then feel justified in harming or punishing other beings for being "wrong"."
And you've got a gun to enforce that.
Evil man.
Mesa, I caught myself doing the Pascal's Wager and have been checking out the list ever since.
This was the video that started the whole thing for me unraveling the black and white thinking.
Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong | Talk Video | TED.com
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)