Are humans inherently evil?

[jamescorck]

I don't think good or evil exists, since both sides make a whole of every human being.

Thing is that some people show one side more than the other. There's not 100% evil people in the World (since, you know, Hitler died, eh?) but those who are really bad may have a reason to be bad. I don't think humans are inherently evil (I think my näiveity is showing) but we start neutral and we turn from one side to the other depending on what we experience in live...so it's like Fallout, yeah, why not? Karma is everything.

 

[number4096]

zehydra had a good answer thus far.

to be more to the point,testosterone and predatorial instincts have a lot to do with the gratuitous sadism i was talking about(predator instinct makes you enjoy the hunt and therefore makes you like hurting people for the fun of it.).

I was more talking on a genetical level than a moral one when i said gratuitous sadism.

 

[Baldry]

"nothing is inherently good or evil, but thinking makes it so"

Does that answer your question?

DAMN IT NINJ'D

 

[number4096]

As for the bullying,i was refering to something people could relate to when thinking about evil people.If more people were attacked by lumberjacks i would have said lumberjack instead of bully.but i am sure everyone here was attacked or insulted by someone without ever understanding why or finding the logic behind such actions.

 

[Slyde]

In reality we would love to be evil for fun, that our ultimate goal is complete destruction.

However,

In reality we must not endanger, but protect that continues our genetics.

 

[ineedscissors]

It depends on your definition of evil, and besides that no human could test this while remaining objective and unbiased, it would have to be an intelligent, unfeeling extra-terrestrial being. Or Yahtzee.

 

[luclin92]

there no evil just idiots.

 

[Slyde]

Look around you.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Well, there are a few people I'd like to beat the tar out of and then four who would probably have to stop breathing immediately. If there were no reprecussions, then yeah I'd probably be a little quicker to violence.

But I think when it comes down to it, every human being is capable the same actions. There are just many different variables. If we were all stripped down to our nuts and bolts, then yeah I'd say we were pretty much as capable of evil as we were good.

 

[SilverUchiha]

If we were devoid of any survival instincts, retributions, or restraints then we'd be just like any other animal on the planet...

... that in mind, we'd also probably still be just as destructive and retarded as we are right now but much much more because there's nothing to hold us back. You might as well just ask how mankind would fair without common sense.

 

[PinkAngelKitty]

People aren't inherently evil. But the say goes "Absolute power corrupts absolutely".

Truer words are rarely spoken.

 

[number4096]

Here are three reasons i say humans are evil:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15822_5-douchebag-behaviors-explained-by-science.html

http://www.cracked.com/blog/really-mad-science-5-scientific-explanations-for-the-angry-dickhead

http://www.cracked.com/article_16239_5-psychological-experiments-that-prove-humanity-doomed.html

 

[Datalord]

Humans are inherently NOT pure

We do both good and evil when not restrained, but since the norm is to restrain evil and let good roam free, so people notice a greater change in evil when anarchy exists

 

[Vaalkor]

I read an article in BBC Focus recently about how it is in our nature to commit the seven sins, I can't remember the specifics but it seemed to make sense.

 

[Chewster]

Not evil, but selfish, most certainly. The two are not synonymous, but neither are they always mutually exclusive.

 

[Trafs]

Humans are not inherently evil, because "Evil" itself is a man-made idea. As is "Good".

Humans are simply naturally looking out for number one. This isn't good nor evil, it's just life, instinct. If preserving oneself means making life harder for another, then so be it.
It's my view that being selfless is somewhat unnatural, unless it is to create a reputation for yourself that will otherwise make life easier.

 

[A Pious Cultist]

No but humans are inherently stupid.

 

[Bluesclues]

Here are three reasons i say humans are evil:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15822_5-douchebag-behaviors-explained-by-science.html

http://www.cracked.com/blog/really-mad-science-5-scientific-explanations-for-the-angry-dickhead

http://www.cracked.com/article_16239_5-psychological-experiments-that-prove-humanity-doomed.html

No such thing as evil unless you base it off society's standards.

 

[Shanecooper]

People aren't inherently evil. But the say goes "Absolute power corrupts absolutely".

Truer words are rarely spoken.

does that mean that a small amount of power only slightly corrupts? or is it only corruptible in large doses?

 

[Kycho]

i agree with those saying humans aren't automatically evil.

rather, the shaping of said person by surroundings and communication, notmentioning, like stated, "good" and "evil" are simply relative.
carrying out a suicidebombing seems evil to those attacked by it, but may be seen as a divine and "right, just, good" action.

if i were suddenly without any form of punishment for my actions, i would follow my instincts (which again have been shaped by my life)

as for if everyone else were without rules, i'd protect myself, no matter the cost.