Hitler was trying to create a master race and trying to get rid of people who he saw as not being pure. — Jack Cummins
Thanks, Possibility, that is indeed the story I was thinking of. I didn't know it was from the Huainanzi.
Sorry for not @-ing you.
I should have known that you would know, given our previous and worthwhile discussions :100: — Amity
some people may have bigger shadows than others, or more particular obstacles in their life journeys than others. — Jack Cummins
https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/512273We can see how this might relate to our navigating the real world.
It isn't about some knowledge of a spiritual force, available only to the few.
We have to make our way through events as they arise.
There is no time to consult a manual, map or master.
The question is how do we prepare ourselves for any tough bits ?
We can't always.
However, if we have internalised, experienced or practised a set of basic principles or morals, a way of looking at the world, then we might arrive at the best possible solution. — Amity
I have some familiarity with Taoism, but have not, at this stage, read as deeply on this tradition as I would like to. — Jack Cummins
is evil subjectively constructed, or does it stem from objective aspects of life, beyond our own human thinking and meanings? — Jack Cummins
I’m curious as to why you thought this would not be a popular view. I agree wholeheartedly with this description, and I think you’re being quite cautious in how you express it. The way I see it, to describe something as ‘evil’ is to admit ignorance, isolation or exclusion of some aspect to our experience. It identifies a limitation in our understanding. — Possibility
I definitely believe that it is important to separate the nature of 'evil' acts from the people who have committed them. I have worked in some forensic settings with people who have committed very serious crimes and I found that this separation of the act from the actor was essential . It can be difficult to suspend judgements on people, especially if they seem to show the worst possible tendencies. But, I think that many people find some psychological reassurance by projecting evil onto those who reveal the worst side of human nature. But, I do think that it is worthwhile going beyond labelling certain people as 'evil' because they are just people, even if they do behave in extreme ways which we view as being monstrous. — Jack Cummins
I know that it is hard to define evil precisely. I know that you say it is a Zen moment by not knowing what evil is. The only problem which I see is that by simply saying that you don't know what it is it makes it harder to even begin to think about the reality of evil in world affairs. Perhaps you just don't think that the word 'evil' is not particularly helpful as a starting line, but I am not sure whether or not this is what you mean — Jack Cummins
hard to fathom — Jack Cummins
an intention or a consequence — Jack Cummins
objective and subjective — Jack Cummins
Live eviL — 180 Proof
But torturing someone over a period of time would involve the subjective experience of the person suffering as an end, and clear long term intent to harm. So, in the scheme of things, it would be seen as falling into the darkest regions of the spectrum of 'evil' acts. I am not trying to be pedantic, because all these factors would play so much weight in any legal evaluation of repeated a acts of torture. — Jack Cummins
I believe that you have a useful basis for thinking about evil starting from our experiences and relating it in a wider way to others. Here, I think it involves think about our own suffering and connection it to potential evil of others who may suffer. This may be an existential approach, involving wisdom and compassion. — Jack Cummins
Perhaps, I did not explain clearly enough. I was trying to say that torture would be classified as being one of the most severe crimes, taking account of all factors. The end of the victim receiving repeated acts of torture and the ongoing malicious intent of the person perpetuating it — Jack Cummins
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