The Nature of Evil

[CAnnoneer]

What is it, at least according to you?

[Patriot]

What is it, at least according to you?

If you tell me what "evil" is, I might tell you what I think about its nature.   

[Werewolf]

Evil is the intentional lack of regard for the consequences of one's actions on others.

At the macro level it strives to forward it's on agenda by any means. Thus an agenda with an end result that is good for some but bad for others without regard for those to whom bad is done is evil even if more is gained than is lost.

Evil requires that the perpetrator be aware of his/her actions and the consequences thereof thus a certifiably insane psychopath is not evil but deranged.

[Manedwolf]

I think it's the thing that came as a giant flaming planet, made a phone call to Gary Oldman, and then was repelled by Milla Jovovich screaming.

[grampster]

Having it rainy and windy on opening day of deer season. 

[charby]

Evil?  

Its a selfish action that shows no regard for anyone else, usually for some sort of profit or gain for the initiator of the action.

[Brad Johnson]

An intent to do harm - physical, financial, emotional, social, or otherwise.

Brad

[Perd Hapley]

Must evil always be aimed at another person?  Can a lone castaway say, think or do evil, on his private island? 

[CAnnoneer]

fistful, that is all your religious self got to say on the subject? I am underwhelmed.

[Strings]

heh... I'm tickled...

>Its a selfish action that shows no regard for anyone else, usually for some sort of profit or gain for the initiator of the action.<

Ok... so mankind's advances through the ages have been "evil"...

>An intent to do harm to others - physical, financial, emotional, social, or otherwise.<

See above: don't we intend to harm an animal, before we can eat it?

Y'all need to try a bit harder...

And what do I think evil is?








Fistful will back me on this...








Me. evil is Me.

[RoadKingLarry]

While I may not be able to define it I know it when I see it:

Evil Incarnate

[yesitsloaded]

I'll see your Hillary and raise you by one worse

[CAnnoneer]

The original question was about the nature, not the visage, of evil.

[Balog]

Who's that second pic of, Paul Newman? I can't tell.

[yesitsloaded]

Joe Biden, father of the assault weapons ban.

[Perd Hapley]

Fistful will back me on this...

Me. evil is Me.  

See, that proves he is a witch.  That, and he floats as if made of wood. 
 
So far, I agree with Strings and RoadKingLarry. 

[Strings]

No, Roadking Larry came up with what scares evil ('cause, I'll be honest, that woman scares the bejeebus out of me!)

[El Tejon]

Stupidity.

Believe me I know evil and it is stupid.

[HankB]

The deliberate, intentional, and malicious initiation of unprovoked harm on innocents for pleasure would qualify as being evil . . .

[Perd Hapley]

fistful, that is all your religious self got to say on the subject? I am underwhelmed. 

I believe a common definition of evil is, "the absence of good." 

[yesitsloaded]

"We must all fear evil men, but there is another kind of evil that we should fear most, and that is the indifference of good men"

[GreatBlueWhale]

In the words of Justice Potter Stewart, "I know it when I see it..."
Evil presupposes a particular worldview It doesn't matter what that worldview is. People generally consider something evil when it works against what they consider their deeply held core values, their ethos. Therefore, being a subjective construct, evil cannot be defined or even described without reference to a particular worldview. Hence, "I know it when I see it..."

Worldviews are often similar, but seldom congruent. This muddies the waters. Of course, since my worldview is the most valid, most correct worldview, my definition and description of evil would be absolute. Wouldn't yours?

[Perd Hapley]

Therefore, being a subjective construct, evil cannot be defined or even described without reference to a particular worldview. Hence, "I know it when I see it..."

Yet you are able to give a generic definition of evil, without reference to your own particular world view.  See below

People generally consider something evil when it works against what they consider their deeply held core values, their ethos. 

Of course, your view did show by your assertion of the subjective nature of evil (and hence also of morality), but that is not very particular.

Worldviews are often similar, but seldom congruent. This muddies the waters.

Not necessarily enough to prevent agreement on the nature of evil.  People of different religions may disagree on what form evil takes (whether or not it is evil to eat pork or to have multiple wives), but they might still agree on the definition of the term. 

[GreatBlueWhale]

Yeah, I screwed up. Perhaps I should have said that evil being a subjective construct; we cannot describe the nature of evil without reference to particular worldview. My general definition would stand. That is much closer to what I meant. (I really shouldnt forum surf and try to post while on short breaks.)

However, definition is one thing, nature another. Take abortion on demand. One person says it is evil because it denies the sanctity of life. The next person says it is regrettable, but not necessarily evil. The third person says it is a good thing, and anyone who tries to discourage a woman from having an abortion is evil. The concept of evil would be the same thing to all these people, a serious violation of some deeply held value, but the nature of evil is different. Almost any polarizing issue can present this dichotomy (environmentalism, immigration, capitalism, communism, 2nd Amendment, etc.). Suppose a biological attack killed 90% of all the Jews in Israel. Millions would mourn. Millions would dance in the streets.

I would differ with you that my view is not particular. You would agree there are some who will not allow for even the thought of any type of relativism of good and evil, morality in general. They insist everyone must judge from their particular rigid black and white viewpoint. I do not hold that view. There are those who believe in nothing or everything (you choose) and consequently say no one can judge at all, because every viewpoint is equally valid. I do not hold that view.

Though I hold the concept to be relative, I have a moral position, a particular and certainly not unique, worldview informed by religious or philosophical tenets. I believe mine to be correct. (Wouldnt it be ridiculous for me to hold a position if I didnt think it was right?) It is undoubtedly similar to others. However, if you are not one who shares a similar position, I recognize you have every right to yours as I to mine. While I may try to persuade you, I will not insist.

Of course, I claimed my definition and description of evil is absolute, so I am not too hypocritical.  .

[CAnnoneer]

Is evil really that subjective?