Where does evil come from?

[Slimebeast]

NKAJ said:

Slimebeast said:

The_vagabond7 said:

Good and evil aren't real tangible objective things, they are entirely decided by the cultural zeitgeist of the day.

Really? So can think of a scenario where it's a good act to torture a baby?

Or rather, do you mean it is irrelevant to ever describe the act of torturing a child good/right or evil/wrong?

These kind of things dont work because we can make infinately complex situations.For exmple with the baby thing i could say:We are in a situation where if we dont torture this baby then the entire human race will be wiped out .I could make a whole list of situtions when its good to do something horrible,mainly due to it being the lesser of two evils.

Scoobes said:

Slimebeast said:

The_vagabond7 said:

Good and evil aren't real tangible objective things, they are entirely decided by the cultural zeitgeist of the day.

Really? So can think of a scenario where it's a good act to torture a baby?

Or rather, do you mean it is irrelevant to ever describe the act of torturing a child good/right or evil/wrong?

Good and evil can be matters of perspective. Everyone has a biological instinct to feel empathy for those around us and for our fellow humans, but these can be overwritten by culture, upbringing, religion etc.

Is it OK to torture a baby? The vast majority of people would say no because it's an instinctial and biological response to be disgusted at the torture of a child that requires our protection. However, as has happened and continues to happen, what if the parents believed the child to be possesed? They may torture the child in an attempt to "exorcise" the demon from the child. From the parents perspective they are morally correct to torture that child as they firmly believe they are doing so for good of the child and the good of humanity. In the past this would be the most common view so in this context it becomes morally "good".

No no. No such bullshit. No other consequences. This act won't save the world (LOL! if that was the case the majority of humans would torture the baby without second thoughts) and it won't drive out any imaginary demons.

It's an easy scenario. You got three guys and a hammer or one guy with a hammer and a baby. No consequences for anyone else, no saving the world or such BS.

When is it okay to torture an innocent being when there's absolutely no gain (except for the pleasure to the torturer) ?