Rather, ALL religions have ALWAYS pronounced evil to be a choice in every human being. — AlienFromEarth
An intention really, is an organism that sets out to do something. — AlienFromEarth
It's a minute before midnight here, 59 minutes past midnight where you are. And he's still not banned! — Bitter Crank
Maybe true for those who defend themselves. Not for the attacker, whose purpose is only to dominate, exploit, get profit, and so on.War cannot be used, as people fighting for war are fighting for survival — AlienFromEarth
BTW, there's no such a thing as "instinctual knowledge". An instinct is an innate behavior in response to certain stimuli. And knowledge refers to facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education. It involves reasoning and it includes evaluation of good and evil. Instinct doesn't. It's just automatic reaction.There is no lower level of instinctual knowledge, than to know what good and evil are — AlienFromEarth
I agree.1)Good cannot be evil. Evil cannot be good. — AlienFromEarth
What acts? I suppose that the word "evil" or "bad" is missing, right?2) Knowledge of good prevents one from committing acts. — AlienFromEarth
This might happen but it's not usually the case. A good --I prefer "ethical"-- person can go easily astray and commit a bad action. But he will know, he will be aware that he did something bad. It is the evil ("unethical") person who usually manages to "unknow" what evil is, i.e. to hide, burry the evil nature of his acts. That's why most really unethical persons cannot distinguish between "good" and "bad". They are characterized by "no remorse". They are actually mentally ill. That's why when such a condition is established in courts, the culpable is sent usually to a mental clinic rather than in prison.3) If evil were a choice just anyone could make, the ability to commit evil would require a good person to somehow "unknow" what evil is — AlienFromEarth
Certainly!4) Committing evil cannot be considered a "mistake", as it is deliberate as the definition of evil above states. — AlienFromEarth
Certainly!5) Survival cannot be a reason to commit evil, as evil directly threatens the survival and well-being of the offending evil-doer. — AlienFromEarth
Certainly. I'm glad you brought the "mental" case! I mentioned already myself in (3) above. However, there are various degrees or levels of mental illnesses. They start from simply irrational behavior and go up to complete madness. At the lower levels the individual can still think rationally and recognize the evil of his actions. As he goes up on the scale, he loses any sense of moderation to finally get totally disconnected from reality. He acts automatically, totally compulsively, in a way that would resemble instinct. So, since reasoning in such a case is inexistent one cannot talk anymore about reasons to commit evil.6) Mental Illness cannot be used as a reason to commit evil either — AlienFromEarth
I am afraid that I have to disagree in that. (What a pity, the last thing I'm commenting on! :smile:)Conclusion: Anyone who commits an evil act, is pure evil. — AlienFromEarth
I assume you have been exposed to basically the same information on the different religions as I have, therefore you know clear and well they do not share my sentiments on evil. — AlienFromEarth
the problem with it being "religious" metaphysics is that no religion in history as ever attempted to truly separate good from bad in human beings. Rather, ALL religions have ALWAYS pronounced evil to be a choice in every human being. That is precisely what I am arguing against. — AlienFromEarth
All religions that I have read about do not agree with my views. I assume you have been exposed to basically the same information on the different religions as I have, therefore you know clear and well they do not share my sentiments on evil. — AlienFromEarth
Also in St Augustine's confessions, this prayer... "Lord, make me chaste—but not yet." — Bitter Crank
Nothing is a Greater Evil encircled by Good, a Greater Good is a blue mirror that comes naturally when the encircling good cubes itself — ghostlycutter
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