Amaranthus Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Wow!! You really think it's easier to be evil than good, I must be a much better person than you then. Probably... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crookesey Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Human nature dictates that we all try as hard as we can to be as close as possible to the top of the pile, the view is better and there are fewer folk trying to climb over you. Of course inequality exists, when the person with power can deny the legitimate request of the person without power. Equality has never worked as some folk want to be more equal than others, so that just leaves us with superiority, perhaps we should bring in the Blairs at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnailyBoy Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 How can you say that? If 'society' didn't exist, good and evil still would. So in the natural world, outside the human race there are examples of good and evil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amaranthus Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 So in the natural world, outside the human race there are examples of good and evil? I don't mean that animals and plants can be evil but yes, good and evil still exist. I suppose it depends on your belief in life on other planets/ God etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epiphany Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 good and evil are just societal norms. The only superiority you can claim from being law abiding is one of morality, which just means that you have superior ability to conform to the behaviour that society says is correct. If morality and virtues are self contained in this way, then could there be any legitimate claims that someone is superior to that very system? I.e. you could claim superiority because you understand that morals are a mere product of an ever changing consensus reality limited by the constraints of human consciousness. Therefore you become an amoral nihilist, and simply conform to the impulse of your desires with a smug look on your face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amaranthus Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 If morality and virtues are self contained in this way, then could there be any legitimate claims that someone is superior to that very system? I.e. you could claim superiority because you understand that morals are a mere product of an ever changing consensus reality limited by the constraints of human consciousness? Therefore you become an amoral nihilist, and simply conform to the impulse of your desires. That is why I don't believe that 'society' has any bearing over good and evil. 'Society' is simply a self-contained social network, without which essential morality still exists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epiphany Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 I don't mean that animals and plants can be evil but yes, good and evil still exist. I suppose it depends on your belief in life on other planets/ God etc. If there was no life anywhere, what would be the reference point against which acts of good and evil could be judged? Or from the perspective of a completely impartial outside observer, who could see the universe for what it is - matter and energy - what would be the noticeable difference between good and evil in the grand scheme of things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amaranthus Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 If there was no life anywhere, what would be the reference point against which acts of good and evil could be judged? Or from the perspective of a completely impartial outside observer, who could see the universe for what it is - matter and energy - what would be the noticeable difference between good and evil in the grand scheme of things? If you believe there is no God and if there is no-one in existence anywhere who is capable of being one or the other, then in that case I guess it wouldn't exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epiphany Posted July 2, 2010 Author Share Posted July 2, 2010 If you believe there is no God and if there is no-one in existence anywhere who is capable of being one or the other, then in that case I guess it wouldn't exist. Excellent. Mods you can close this thread now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 How can you say that? If 'society' didn't exist, good and evil still would. No they wouldn't, they're just something we make up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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