I am replying to you because you enquired about the meaning of my battery running out in Wimbledon and also know that my mother is ill. Apart from being out in Wimbledon, as the womble of this site, and having to wait until I get home until I can charge up my phone, I think that my psychological batteries had probably run out too. — Jack Cummins
To backtrack a little for clarification.
Here is my critical post re you mentioning the 'relative evil' of your battery running out:
https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/570189
We can ask why some would agree/disagree with this. Some would 'like' it - see it as 'good'.
For example - it needed to be said ( we might consider why but that would lead to other issues ). Others would 'dislike' - see it as 'bad' and e.g. make reference to my handle in an ironic way.
We can ask why you edited the 'evil' bit out after this was criticised. But that's not terribly important.
Re: knowing about your Mum being ill. Yes. We have discussed this in another thread. Unfortunately, I can become too involved in the affairs of others.
Interesting to see it from this new angle.
The physical and psychological aspects of life you are both going through which has made you think, not for the first time, about the evil of suffering.
In such situations, some ask questions such as 'Why me - what have I done to deserve this ?'
How they think of 'evil' or 'sin' in terms of religious belief, as you know, can add to the fear or anxieties already being faced.
Human ideas of these concepts are restricted to understanding, but we can ask whether they have any basis in any aspects of principles beyond the realm of our own thinking. — Jack Cummins
What is 'beyond the the realm of our own thinking' ?
What would be the consequence of our finding out ? More or less suffering ?
If my thread discussion did appear a bit obscure it probably comes in the context of my mother being ill and awaiting tests, for which both I and her are fearful. I am struggling with how to help her cope with any bad news and that is what got me thinking about how we frame 'evil'. — Jack Cummins
I don't think that the title and topic of your thread is at all 'obscure'. It's an old and continuing concern in philosophy. Fascinating and comprehensive articles abound e.g. in SEP.
The issue stems from thoughts/concerns about real life. Events such as you describe are common.
For me, it is less about delving into all the philosophical theories/opinions but how these situations can be alleviated.
I do believe that how we understand the forces of good and evil is not dependent on a religious perspective. — Jack Cummins
OK. So, you see good and evil as being forces. What or who is doing the forcing ?
The trouble is many do see this as stemming from an Absolute Being.
Life events - can be seen as a punishment or reward for behaviour. A judgement from on high.
I think that independently of whether we believe in any underlying divine force, we are still left with the quandary of whether there are any inherent principles of good and evil in the universe, even though these ideas are inevitably related to how we perceive good and evil in our own lives. — Jack Cummins
Some philosophers might be left in such a quandary but it is of their own making.
As you say, it depends on how we view life as either bad or good. This absolutism, or black and white way of thinking, I consider unhelpful as a method of coping with fears or sufferings.
So, when people say e.g. when their phone batteries die that it is a kind of 'suffering' because they are not longer in touch with the whole wide world, or they can't be contacted, how do we react to this ?
I'll close now by sharing a little:
Like many, I have been in a similar situation as you describe - coping with ill and dying parents in hospital. I understand all about the suffering. I too wondered and hoped that I would find the right things to say or do. I know how it saps energy etc.. etc...
The early realisation that negative events in my life - life in general - was not all about me, gave me a whole new perspective. 'Bad' things, as we know, happen to 'good' people and v.v.
But not all is what it seems.
There's a story out there - I think in taoism - which demonstrates this very well.
Perhaps someone knows it and can share, I've forgotten -
@Wayfarer @Fooloso4 @Ying ?
The thing is to prepare yourself in any way you can to meet or foresee life's pain/pleasure.
Like making sure your phone, your self is as fully charged as possible.
It's your responsibility.
:sparkle: