Up@dawn 2.0

Thursday, October 27, 2016

What Defines Good and Evil?

What do we really mean when we use these simplistic terms, ‘good’ and ‘evil’? ‘Good’ means a lack of centeredness. It means the ability to empathize with other people, to feel compassion for them, and to put their needs before your own. It means, if necessary, sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of others’. It means benevolence, altruism and selflessness, and self-sacrifice towards a greater cause - all qualities which stem from a sense of empathy.
‘Evil’ people are those who are unable to empathize with others. As a result, their own needs and desires are of paramount importance. They are selfish, self-absorbed and narcissistic. In fact, other people only have value for them to the extent that they can help them satisfy their own desires, or to which they can exploit them. Overall, their primary characteristic is an inability to empathize with others. 

6 comments:

  1. (H3) It really is odd when you think about it. If you are selfless and give your life for someone or something we believe in we call you a hero, if you do it for someone or something we consider unworthy we call you a zealot and a terrorist. Be willing to devote your life to what we call good and your a saint. To something we consider bad, and your a monster.

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  2. I think you are wrong on the point that evil people don't have the ability to empathize with people. Many people who are considered evil do empathize with other, they just either do not care about other people's pain or they block it out with the twisted joy they get from it.

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  3. (H3) I believe that empathy is an important characteristic but just because someone is not empathetic does not mean that someone is evil. There are plenty of people who just don't feel a strong emotional connection to others emotions or aren't concerned with the emotions or the lives of others but that doesn't make them evil.

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  4. (H3) I believe that empathy is an important characteristic but just because someone is not empathetic does not mean that someone is evil. There are plenty of people who just don't feel a strong emotional connection to others emotions or aren't concerned with the emotions or the lives of others but that doesn't make them evil.

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  5. I don't believe that selfishness is only a characteristic of evil. I think that many people act on the notion of appearing selfless in order to gain the selfish advantage of a "good" reputation. This is where good and evil actions get deceiving - when the motives behind them are contrary to their perceived outcome.

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  6. I agree with Megan on this one regarding empathy. Some people who lack any and all empathy have legitimate brain disorders that causes the lack of empathy through biological reasons. How are we to claim someone is evil if they themselves cannot help what is happening to them? The like is so difficult to define between good and evil and I don't think we will ever all come to a conclusion.

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