Poll: Are those without conscience evil or simply the next step in human evolution?

[Lord George]

An argument I was having with my GF today which I though might interest the fine people here is

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

I would be delighted to hear your views and opinions on this, are people who are without morality and empathy "evil" or simply a new state of human evolution.

 

[the captain]

I will answer your question the very second I'm done filleting this puppy.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[fix-the-spade]

Those totally without conscience are a step backwards in evolution. As such they frequently destroy themselves or leave others with no choice but to destroy them for the greater good.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

Sociopathy isn't a "talent", it is an illness. Caring about others and trying your best to do well for other people isn't a flaw.

Seriously, if you can't be hurt by love or sadness you have my pity, because you also must be failed to be moved by them. That sounds like a hollow existence to me.

 

[llewgriff]

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

I would be delighted to hear your views and opinions on this, are people who are without morality and empathy "evil" or simply a new state of human evolution.

How can you have a happier exsistence when you can't feel love or guilt. How can you truly know happiness when you don't feel sadness. To me that sounds like a hollow exsistance. I belive you are a genetic abnormality..... or crazy

EDIT: if I assumed things that are wrong, sorry

 

[Chaz D]

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

Sociopathy isn't a "talent", it is an illness. Caring about others and trying your best to do well for other people isn't a flaw.

Seriously, if you can't be hurt by love or sadness you have my pity, because you also must be failed to be moved by them. That sounds like a hollow existence to me.

Second.

Seriously, I doubt you're being honest in your assessment of yourself as an "improved human". Sounds like total bull to me. Empathy is a virtue, and it doesn't take a genius to realise that it is far more useful to the development of human society than being an emotionally retarded headcase.

What's more, evolution only works in populations, not individuals, so if you truly don't feel anything you are NOT the next step in human evolution - just a freak mutation.

 

[Dirty Apple]

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

Sociopathy isn't a "talent", it is an illness. Caring about others and trying your best to do well for other people isn't a flaw.

Seriously, if you can't be hurt by love or sadness you have my pity, because you also must be failed to be moved by them. That sounds like a hollow existence to me.

Second.

Seriously, I doubt you're being honest in your assessment of yourself as an "improved human". Sounds like total bull to me. Empathy is a virtue, and it doesn't take a genius to realise that it is far more useful to the development of human society than being an emotionally retarded headcase.

What's more, evolution only works in populations, not individuals, so if you truly don't feel anything you are NOT the next step in human evolution - just a freak mutation.

I would also add to this thats feeling empathy for our fellow humans is one of the main distinctions between ourselves and the higher primates. Studies have shown that while chimpanzees will cooperate towards a mutually beneficial goal, the second it is only of benefit to one individual the effort will be abandoned. Our ability to give selflessly is one of the reasons we're the dominant species on the planet today.

 

[ZeroMachine]

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

Sociopathy isn't a "talent", it is an illness. Caring about others and trying your best to do well for other people isn't a flaw.

Seriously, if you can't be hurt by love or sadness you have my pity, because you also must be failed to be moved by them. That sounds like a hollow existence to me.

Second.

Seriously, I doubt you're being honest in your assessment of yourself as an "improved human". Sounds like total bull to me. Empathy is a virtue, and it doesn't take a genius to realise that it is far more useful to the development of human society than being an emotionally retarded headcase.

What's more, evolution only works in populations, not individuals, so if you truly don't feel anything you are NOT the next step in human evolution - just a freak mutation.

I'm usually not the type to just say "this" but...

This.

 

[Seldon2639]

An argument I was having with my GF today which I though might interest the fine people here is

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

I would be delighted to hear your views and opinions on this, are people who are without morality and empathy "evil" or simply a new state of human evolution.

I'd really urge you to read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" (if you haven't already). The question of empathy being a human quality is prominent. Human society formed on the basis of empathy and social stimuli (including guilt). Evolutionary biology would seem to indicate that people incapable of those feelings are actually a step backwards. We developed into social creatures, and developed both physiology and psychology to allow us to function in communities.

Thus, you're both improved, and a hindrance. You've improved your own prospects, but done harm to society as a whole. Under earlier iterations of culture, your selfishness (and let us be honest in what we call it) could have lead to death. Under current circumstances, it just means you'll be a bit of a jackass.

I'm with the guy above. Society, and humanity, couldn't honestly bring itself to care whether *you're* happy. It cares about what's best for society as a whole; the greatest good for the greatest number. You detract from that if you can serve no interests but your own shortsighted ones. You're trying to make "I'm a jackass" into "I'm heroically breaking away from social conventions", and I'm not buying it.

I'd be surprised if many people actually saw that as an improvement.

 

[Neosage]

No the reason why we are here is because of emotions and stuff.

 

[Lord George]

the idea that humans without any from of conscience could be the next stage in human evolution rather then "evil" humans, as I myself feel no guilt for anything I do and I'm not opposed at all to hurting or manipulating people to get what I want, but this talent has served me well and has helped me many times throughout my life, the way I see by being emotionless and lacking empathy I am not evil or bad but rather an improved human, I'm free to do what I want whenever I want and I can't be hurt by love or sadness. I think its likely I will have a happier existence by only focusing on my own needs and whims.

Sociopathy isn't a "talent", it is an illness. Caring about others and trying your best to do well for other people isn't a flaw.

Seriously, if you can't be hurt by love or sadness you have my pity, because you also must be failed to be moved by them. That sounds like a hollow existence to me.

Well I don't know what there like so I can't miss them, I've read about them and had people try to describe it to me and it doesn't sound great to be honest as from what I've seen love makes people sad often and feeling sad is like feeling sick. Maybe I am missing out on some great experience but as it stands I don't know what I'm missing, as I'm sure people blind since birth don't miss sight as they've never had it.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Well it would be first have to be proven that a conscience is genetic to show if it is evolutionary at all.

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

Try murdering somebody and seeing if this goes on your conscience or not .

I personally don't mind people either way, but if you keep going, eventually you will feel something. Eventually everybody snaps .

Good luck though, and I hope we meet at some point to discuss the finer points of life but for now cya later .

 

[mrgbx]

Sorry, common teenage apathy is not evolutionary step because everyone GROWS out of it.

Also, real sociopaths totally wouldn't make a thread about this. Comparison-shmerison.

 

[Kikosemmek]

I don't believe that not feeling guilt is a 'next step' in human evolution, as you will probably only have as many children as your peers will- much less than what there already is in the gene pool, and I doubt that not feeling guilt is simply determined by one or two genes. I actually find it hard to believe that you don't feel guilt, but I'll take your words for it and assume that you don't.

From my experience, guilt comes from retrospective evaluation of one's own actions which at the time did not sit well with them. Bringing others harm is a common cause of guilt, it is not a requisite of guilt. Guilt is regret. They are one in the same. They both represent the negative reaction to past deeds, and the desire to alter these deeds or make up for them.

I don't consider your inability to feel guilt evil. I consider it dangerous, for if you make a habit of hurting or manipulating others, your reputation will suffer, and your enemies will multiply. Unless you stay on alert to prevent yourself from angering the wrong person at the wrong time, you'll have a hard time moderating your lack of appreciation of others' pain.

If you ask me, one can feel guilt when harming oneself, either simply or vicariously by giving disservice to those one may sympathize with.

 

[Neosage]

No the reason why we are here is because of emotions and stuff.

The eloquence of your argument has caused me to see the error of my opinions!

So you think you are a comedian eh?

If we didn't give a damn about anyone else, we would not have music or science or any great things. If no-one gave a damn about anyone, why would you even start a family? Why would you care for people? Humans would just die out if we didn't care about people.

 

[Delicious]

Sorry, common teenage apathy is not evolutionary step because everyone GROWS out of it.

Also, real sociopaths totally wouldn't make a thread about this. Comparison-shmerison.

Bingo.

A sociopath very rarely admits to being a sociopath, and is normally fantastic at faking human emotion.

(The following is directed towards the OP):

So I can say almost without doubt that your self assessment is wrong (as most usually are) and that you made this post because you want (for whatever strange reason) to be what you described.