What is Evil?

[deth2munkies]

In games, movies, books, what have you, there is always some malevolent force that's the "bad guy" and is therefore dubbed "evil". I would ask, though, what is it that makes one evil? Is it deeds, thoughts, desires, a combination? And which deeds, thoughts, and desires are evil? Why? What does evil essentially boil down to?

When you get right down to it, it's quite a bit more complex that it seems at first glance.

My answer to the question would be that evil, at its very heart is selfishness. When you consistently put yourself before others, that begets greed, lust, and even anger both at others who see themselves above you, and at yourself.

So what do you believe is the simplest form of evil?

 

[Sodoff]

IN MY PANTS!

oh sorry thats Where..

my bad

 

[Eldarion]

All Heresy against the god emperor is evil!!!! All are unclean!!!! All must be purged!!!!

lol

 

[rokkolpo]

dpends on the culture and values of the place and time you want to define evil.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

My brain. You don't even wanna know what goes on in there.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Wishing or knowingly inflicting harm or suffering on others for reasons other than survival or protection. (Edited)

 

[Yureina]

I would not call evil neccesarily "selfish" in the sense of the two being equal. Meaning that just because someone is selfish does not make them evil. Rather, I would call Evil something that has a complete and utter disregard for how others are affected by their actions. This has many labels: antisocial behavior, sociopath, whatever. Someone who acts in that fashion to be is someone who is evil. Selfishness inevitably links with that sort of behavior though, so I guess it checks out in that regard.

Or maybe I just don't want to call myself evil because I have a selfish streak. Even with that, I absolutely refuse to carry out actions that are seriously harmful to others, or at least do not do so without some very serious reservations.

Evil is the person who does such things without any of those reservations or concers about who will be hurt by their actions.

 

[Eldarion]

Wishing or knowingly inflicting harm on others.

In all seriousness, this I agree with.

 

[Billion Backs]

Evil is what "we", or "the Man", finds contradictory to his ideas.

Otherwise, there's no evil or good.

What "evil" essentially boils down to is a label that helps one demonize one's opponents to use it as an excuse to justify his or her own actions and somehow imply that objective morality exists anywhere outside one's head (Yes, it's an oxymoron, I know. ) for future furthering of goals and such.

Verbose!

On an unrelated note, one who decides to say "fuck it" and goes on to destroy the whole world for no other reason then 'just cause (hur) is my hero, whether it's Joker from Dark Knight, or Kefka from Final Fantasy.

 

[Gralian]

An evil force can be many different things. Mostly though, it all boils down to perception. Unless a force is malicious and inherently evil, like angry spirits and cannot be reasoned with, it is never an "absolute evil". In media, something classified as evil has opposing views or values with the beliefs that the protagonist and audience identifies with. When you try to look at something from the villain's perspective, you often see a more human side to them. You can understand the situation from their point of view. I suppose 'evil' in the sense of mindless violence or a force that cannot be reasoned with is simply "a force without restraint, control or direction. It serves no purpose other than to destroy and torment those around them." I also feel that generally evil equates to selfishness rather than selfless or altruistic beliefs, values and actions.

 

[Velvo]

The root of evil is faith. Not just the simple "faith" as in religious, but faith as in faith in your own entitlement (selfishness) or faith in your infallibility (hubris), or faith in being the only conscious being in the universe (murderous solipsism).

Course, faith is also the root of a lot of good things. Faith in the goodness of people, faith in love, faith that you are not just a brain in a jar.

Evil is VERY circumstantial. Just one of those crazy evolved responses to whatever makes it difficult for the species to continue.

 

[Floppertje]

hmmm... maybe selfishness is evil, but only if taken to extremes.
other than that, evil is a term that varies per society. you wouldn't find the same morals in an african village on the edge of starvation as you would in say... manchester. if you'd burn a truckload of bread in manchester people would probably think you're a nutter and a wastefull one at that. in africa they'd think you're the spawn of satan himself. for a more realistic example... I'm sure you'll European farmers would throw away tons of milk and butter.... for a reason that's escaped me... I think it had to do with them not getting enough money for it. in Afrika, i'm sure that would've been frowned upon.

EDIT: has anyone of you read 'the day of the triffids'? there's a bit in there that marvelously deals with this subject.

 

[Billion Backs]

Wishing or knowingly inflicting harm on others.

Uh, yeah. I see a big problem right here.

A starving hunter would wishingly and knowingly inflict harm on other beings. Lesser beings, sure, but you haven't said anything about intelligence or level of civilization or what not.

Our entire race, and not us alone, obviously - however we're the only "intelligent" omnivore capable of clear communication and so on present, survived on killing - and I can guarantee, willingly, killing other creatures for food.

Plants too, unless you pretend that plants aren't organic matter as anything else, whether they have nervous systems or not.

 

[Brandon237]

Greed and lust are immorality, not evil. The joker is evil, Darth maul is evil. Evil stems from a complete hatred of all life and taking pleasure in suffering. A truly evil person kills for no reason. A truly evil person only wishes to see all that is good burn and would relish in it.

that is my 666 cents worth.

 

[chstens]

Merriam Webster provides:
1 a : morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked b : arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct
2 a archaic : inferior b : causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive c : disagreeable
3 a : causing harm : pernicious b : marked by misfortune : unlucky

 

[Kollega]

Evil has many forms - but it's main form is when you cause harm to others for your and only your own benefit, and not in life-or-death situation (be it desire for power or just plain sadism). Evil is abuse of power for your own ends. That's as simple as the fact we breathe oxygen.

When you harm others for a genuinely good goal ("kill one to save thousands", that kind of stuff) or to protect yourself, it falls more under "morally ambiguous" label.

[HEADING=3]And every Nietzsche Wannabe who states otherwise can go screw himself.[/HEADING]

 

[Rasputin1]

Wishing or knowingly inflicting harm on others.

I think that pretty much sums up Evil.

 

[Floppertje]

Wishing or knowingly inflicting harm on others.

I think that pretty much sums up Evil.

so.... all soldiers are evil? they knowingly inflict harm on others. as do the police when they arrest someone... not to mention the electric chair...