Is there an evil which is absolute?

I often pondered this question over the years. I now have no doubt there exists an absolute evil.


My Ex-wife.

Originally posted by fockewulf190

Originally posted by Echtelior
One of the things which make me think is the question of evil. Usually when people declare an act evil, it's always based on the morals of that persons way of thinking which is, obviously, based on the cultures standars which he or she was raised in. For example, cannibalism is considered as an evil thing by the majority of humankind (me included), but there were human societies where it wasn't. On the contrary. So what gives us the right to decide, we are right, they are wrong. Or the suicide bombings, or communism, etc. So my question is: is there an act of evil which doesn't depend on the conditions?

Systematic, intentional genocide fits that term. Holocaust, Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Stalin´s purges, ect.

Funny how Americans like to throw the c**p at everyone else.
What about all those Native Americans? You know, the Indians.
Americans talking about genocide leaves a very bitter taste.

Egoism. Evil can't exist without something "permanent" or something spiritual. In a spiritual world, egoism wouldn't exist. Therefore the contrast or difference between the good and lasting, and evil and temporary, is degrees of altruism and egoism respectively.

reply to post by Echtelior


In this sort of a discussion I believe that evil would depend on INTENTION.

If you were eating the other person just because you are hungry and it is customary to eat others then this would not be defined as evil. However if you were eating the other person to witness, experience or vicariously enjoy the anguish, pain and suffering of the other person...That's easy... this is evil.

reply to post by rusethorcain


I very much agree with that. As Madona said in one of her songs: '' The road to hell is paved with good intentions...Yeaaah'':-) (or something like that)

Could the 10 commandments be considered absolute evil?

There is truly no good or evil. There is only balance. Good could not be counted as good without evil, for without evil what is there to measure against. It is but light and dark, balance, no good or evil, only opposite polarities of energy. What they are measured as or named is purely subjective.

One confusing issue to many people when pondering this question: Whether or not something is an absolute evil in the logical sense (i.e., as the OP is asking) has no bearing on how evil it actually is, how much pain and suffering it causes, and so forth.

Something to think about...

Originally posted by randomname
reply to post by monkey429

 

the fact that they are atheists, proves my point. they have rejected all knowledge of God and help. they are completely blind and lost. i wouldn't even consider them human. it's easier to be evil when you don't believe in God.

What a pile of crap!

Religious people are just as capable of inflicting misery on other humans.

It depends on whether your talking about Evil actions or Evil as an entity of or in itself.

I would propose there is no such thing as Evil, only actions or beliefs that people deem to be Evil. So evil is subjective to the perspective of the person making the judgment. So you can take any act and deem it absolute Evil but it will only be so, in your mind.

Yes... Yes there is absolute evil.




Any questions?

~Heff

reply to post by dv8r942


i would have to agree .. my ex girlfriend is the end all absolute evil.. whatever sent her, well , take her back pleaseee

Yes, ignorance. You may say what if it is a case of an impressionable adolescent being ignorant of violence and greed. Well as truth is universally preferable to falsehood, I believe if the adolescent was fully aware of both virtue and vice, they would choose virtue.

some interesting points have been brought up thus far. I like the idea of intention being the basis for what is evil or not i mean think of the aztecs or mayans, didn't they sacrifice (murder) children for various things? not to enjoy in the suffering of the child but to please gods and make thier lives better. Evil and good are NOT seperate things, if there is no absolute evil there can be no absolute good and vice versa. The absence of evil is good and the absence of good is evil. This is the main tenant of buddhism...

pedophilia

Originally posted by 001100
pedophilia

Not an absolute, as you and me and others may think it is wrong, but what about those doing it.

Its not absolute.

reply to post by Echtelior


Everyone has opinions about morals. What makes ones opinion matter more than someone elses? A cannibal may think that what they do is right, someone else may think the opposite. Is something absolutely evil because the majority thinks it's evil? What if the majority would think cannibalism is good? Would it change anything?

Assume you had only one moral experience. Could you determine if it was about good or evil without having other experiences to compare with? I myself don't think there are any kind of universal or absolute morals, but only ones own subjective understanding and/or belief of the matter.

Originally posted by silent thunder
One confusing issue to many people when pondering this question: Whether or not something is an absolute evil in the logical sense (i.e., as the OP is asking) has no bearing on how evil it actually is, how much pain and suffering it causes, and so forth.

Something to think about...

edit on 11/7/10 by silent thunder because: (no reason given)

So evil is relative to the end result? Perhaps this is true too. This can make something evil after the fact.

Originally posted by Echtelior
One of the things which make me think is the question of evil. Usually when people declare an act evil, it's always based on the morals of that persons way of thinking which is, obviously, based on the cultures standars which he or she was raised in. For example, cannibalism is considered as an evil thing by the majority of humankind (me included), but there were human societies where it wasn't. On the contrary. So what gives us the right to decide, we are right, they are wrong. Or the suicide bombings, or communism, etc. So my question is: is there an act of evil which doesn't depend on the conditions?

Yes I believe there is,Neo cons and far left wingers..PURE EVIL

Everything evil is evil. Murder, lies, etc. No matter the justifiction. Kill 1 to save 100 is evil. Lie to spare the feelings of another is evil. Waging war with a country to prevent them from acquiring weaponry is evil.

People justify their actions and consider their evil acts righteous. But the acts are still evil.

It's the old moniker, if no one joined the military there could be no wars.