Hitler Wasn't Born Evil

This man belongs in the depths of hell. He slaughtered millions of people. Destroyed lineages. Spewed hatred and manipulated an entire people. He single handedly destroyed europe and much of its worth. With the help of an idea he brought the world to its knees, and slapped the bitch with the backside of his hand.

In a world not too long ago, he would have been either hailed as a great conqueror and celebrated as a unifier or demonized as a hellion and castrated for his slanderous speech before ever gaining an ounce of authority. In this world, there were a few that highlighted such concepts such as dualism. Such as Aristotle and Plato whom are still concidered some of the greatest thinkers of all time. People today look at their teachings and interpret the meanings of dualism as everything was black or white. Right or wrong. Correct or incorrect. But I find it to be more appropriate to look at these characteristics (right and wrong) with a common denominator and to be actually one in the same.

While we see evidence of a dualism kind of thinking still in wide acceptance today, especially within commonly accepted religious practices and older generations; philosophy, psychology and the science of these subjects have helped some people to step out of a restricting view of the world and into a more flexible working model that is constantly being adapted to a broader understanding of human relations and general life as we know it. These views can be applied to all aspects of life. Where traditional dualism reigns supreme in such subjects as religion, politics, personal relationships and even seemingly random events, I believe the dualistic nature of their occurrences all share common ground and should be taken subjectively when it comes to formulating an opinion as to what is right and what is wrong.

While I am not going to imply older styles of thought are outdated and do not have relevance, I believe there are more rational ways of viewing the broad world than in a black and white manner. Hitler for instance, at one point was a child. A child with an imagination and a child whom loved. A child who was loved. A bright child in fact. He enjoyed art. He was a nationalist, but took pride in his people more so than the government. It is clear how and why he became popular, but is it that he became popular or is it in a time of trial and tribulations where his patriotism became popular? Some might consider an evil socialist with ideas of evil grandeur and unified domination, while others might have considered him a good man with his feet stable on the ground trying to unify his people elevating them from devastation. Both are valid views.

So, in accordance with perspective you have a good man doing evil deeds. Not a unique allegation, but one that can be attributed all through human history to many different individuals. On either great scale or minute scale this process has been mimmicked and duplicated every single day since the dawn of man.

My point here is for those of us who struggle with the concept of "all men are created equal." It is important to remember both good and evil reside within us all. While it is our responsibility to punish those that break laws of society, it is also equally as important to forgive and let them recapture their integrity as an individual without judgement from their persecutors and with the understanding we are all capable of evil deeds.


**Note** This is my first attempt at something like this. I know it shows. So please feel free to give any sort of criticism you feel necessary. Just trying to expand myself a little.

And if anyone has any opposing views I would love to hear them.

Also, to add, I used Hitler because of his worldwide acceptance of being basically one of the most evil men to ever have lived. In no way am I a sympathizer of Nazi Germany.

I take then that this wasn't meant to be a discussion about Hitler's youth? If so, then I agree that we aren't born evil but instead we are products of our environment. Which was definitely true about Hitler.

Dualism, separation and difference - seems to be at the heart of the problem.

"Nationalism is our form of incest, is our idolatry, is our insanity. "Patriotism" is its cult. It should hardly be necessary to say, that by "patriotism" I mean that attitude which puts the own nation above humanity, above the principles of truth and justice; not the loving interest in one's own nation, which is the concern with the nation's spiritual as much as with its material welfare -- never with its power over other nations. Just as love for one individual which excludes the love for others is not love, love for one's country which is not part of one's love for humanity is not love, but idolatrous worship."
~ Erich Fromm

While I can understand the conern of many about a "new world order", is it not an inevitability, and if its a new order of the right kind, would not the concept of a "global village" not serve the world and the cause of peace, justice, and unity?

There are some principals (as illustrated by say the Parable of the Good Samaritan) which transcend a national particularism.

Good post, and thread! S&F

reply to post by TheComte


Hmmm...products of our environment...While there is a certain truth to that statement, I have to question whether it makes up the majority of the individual that each of us are.

reply to post by OmegaPoint


Interesting perspective.

I've never look at patriotism in that regard. I have always preferred to think of patriotism as holding in higher regard for the people that make up a land or country. Not so much government or leadership. Where nationalistic tendencies, which Hitler undoubtly posessed, are more centered on supremacy of what that country has become and is for the selfish gain of that country no matter its means of attaining those gains. And the thought that ones own country can do no wrong, no matter how the implications of their actions.

Very interetsing though. I wil look more into Eric Fromm.

Your reply is much appreciated!

reply to post by open_eyeballs


While you're at it, look also to the thinking of Pierre Tilliard de Chardin.

www.google.ca... hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=active

It all comes back to the psychology debate about 'Nature versus Nurture.' The science is beginning to indicate that we're born with predispositions and our environment dictates which ones will take precedence. 'Evil' tries to make infinite complexity into a simple label.

Chinua Achebe wrote a poem called 'Vultures.' It illustrates how the ugliest and darkest heart has a 'glow worm of brightness' that represents 'good.' The flipside is that good people have an element of darkness too. Nobody has ever been completely 'good' or 'evil.'

The 'infinite complexity' of Hitler allowed him to become the man he did. He couldn't do it alone. It's chaos theory...'butterfly effect.' The circumstances that led to his dominance can be traced back for centuries. Describing him as simply 'evil' ignores all the precursors.

There isn't much in life that we can be sure of, but it's a certainty that it's more complicated than 'black and white.'

reply to post by open_eyeballs


Thing is he didn't think he was doing evil. He did what he thought was right according to the beliefs he accepted *IE that Jews were bad and going to destroy his people*. Of course those beliefs were wrong but that is another topic..... It's worth noting that very few knowing do what they feel is evil.

reply to post by open_eyeballs

This man belongs in the depths of hell. He slaughtered millions of people. Destroyed lineages. Spewed hatred and manipulated an entire people. He single handedly destroyed europe and much of its worth. With the help of an idea he brought the world to its knees, and slapped the bitch with the backside of his hand.

He's only demonized because he lost. Had he won, we would praise him for his leadership.

The same can be said for nearly every tyrant.

Some day, hundreds of years from now, he will be looked on in awe. So will Mussolini, Stalin, just like we honor dictators and murders from centuries past....

We never seem to honor the benevolent leaders, who quietly ruled their people in peace, and acted for their betterment. I don't know why. Perhaps death and destruction is in our blood.. perhaps it just makes for better reading.

But anyways, as to whether your born evil or righteous is a philosophical debate.. along with are great men born great, or are they made? Alas, we can only speculate.

reply to post by Watcher-In-The-Shadows


All leaders act rationally, though through perception .. very few act maliciously just for the sake of malicious intent. This makes it worse, because a tyrant that will kill you for the sake of good is far more dangerous than a villain out for blood, for the sake of good they actually have a reason to persecute.

reply to post by Rockpuck


Not all leaders act rationally. Just as not all people act rationally. To say that a leader will act rationally despite the fact they human and thusly able to fall for the same thing all humans can is unrealistic at the very best.
Hitler's rise to power was large due to irrationally blaming a minority.

reply to post by Kandinsky


That was cool. I loved every word of it.

I despise, at times, both words good and evil. And dislike it even more when people try to paint a picture of things they disagree with or condem as evil in a black and white opnly spectrum.

Im glad my point got across. I wasn't sure if it did. Hoping people would not take this as a Hitler thing...

reply to post by OmegaPoint


Will do. thanks for the link

Due to Hitler atrocities, mankind as a whole actually become more aware of the need of equality and humanity . If not, I believe mankind will just focus on the material development and science.
He also somehow make us learn about forgiveness on a really large scale.

Destiny is fate. Fate is destiny. If Hitler had rejected the path that we know he took and became a monk or fisherman someone else would have risen to take his place.