NationStates Jolt Archive

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?
The problem is that, at least in theory, hot/cold and dark/light are objective, empirically-verifiable states. Good/evil are completely subjective, so you can define them however the hell you please.

The problem is that, at least in theory, hot/cold and dark/light are objective, empirically-verifiable states. Good/evil are completely subjective, so you can define them however the hell you please.

Yup.

Yup.
If you're my evil twin does that mean you don't really exist?

In order to define the one in the controlling position, you must define what good and evil are.

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?

There is no good. There is no evil. There is no spoon.

There is no good. There is no evil. There is no spoon.
There is only yoghurt.

There is no good. There is no evil. There is no spoon.
Geez, now I can't eat my pudding.

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?

The concept is flawed. Good and evil are merely words of propaganda. In reality only differing interests exist, but no good and no evil.

There is only yoghurt.
How do you eat it if there's no spoon?

Geez, now I can't eat my pudding.

Do what I do; Throw it. :)

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?

Well, technically, it works both ways. Good is the absence of evil, and evil is the absence of good. any empty spaces are quickly filled by one when the other leaves.

Geez, now I can't eat my pudding.

There is only one good way to eat pudding: to stick your face in the bowl and enjoy! :-D YAY PUDDING!

Let me tell you a story...

A monk sat on the side of the road, when suddenly a samurai warrior stood before him. He shouted, "Teach me of good and evil!". The monk smiled and said, "You want to learn of good and evil, you who has killed many? Who has slaughtered men? Who never cleans himself?". The samurai, in rage, drew his sword and prepared to kill the smartmouthed monk. The monk said, "That is evil." The man, in mid-stroke, stopped himself realizing what he was about to do, and began sobbing. "And that is good," the monk said.

How do you eat it if there's no spoon?
That is the eternal suffering of life. Eating yoghurt with a fork.

A monk sat on the side of the road, when suddenly a samurai warrior stood before him. He shouted, "Teach me of good and evil!". The monk smiled and said, "You want to learn of good and evil, you who has killed many? Who has slaughtered men? Who never cleans himself?". The samurai, in rage, drew his sword and prepared to kill the smartmouthed monk. The monk said, "That is evil." The man, in mid-stroke, stopped himself realizing what he was about to do, and began sobbing. "And that is good," the monk said.

Oh yeah? Why? :p

If you're my evil twin does that mean you don't really exist?

That's a subjective opinion. :)

That's a subjective opinion. :)
So...you're half of my split personality and I unconsciously post with your name? :p

That is the eternal suffering of life. Eating yoghurt with a fork.
I prefer to use a knife.

So...you're half of my split personality and I unconsciously post with your name? :p

Only when you're hungry. *nod*

there's no such thing as the absence of one or the other. You can't have good without evil, and you can't have evil without good. Where there's good, there's always the other, and where there's evil, there's always good somewhere.

It's like Light and Darkness. You can't have light without darkness, because even in the brightest place, darkness will still be there (shadows). And in the darkest place, there is always some sort of light.

You need to play more Kingdom Hearts, even though it's a fictional game, they teach some really interesting values on there on the concept of Light and Darkness. Some of the concepts I've found really interesting.

I prefer to use a knife.


At the my former school, spoons or forks weren't available. We were forced to use plastic sporks.

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?

Your concept only works if there exists no thing to which neither good nor evil applies.

And such things exist. So your whole concept is flawed.

The problem is that, at least in theory, hot/cold and dark/light are objective, empirically-verifiable states. Good/evil are completely subjective, so you can define them however the hell you please.
Hot/Cold isn't objective, that it is 82 °F is objectively observable, but whether you find that to be too warm or cool is subjective opinion. Similarly, that I have just punched a baby in the nose is objectively observable, but whether it was a good thing or a bad thing is subjective.
Both are sets of words that are applied to a specific circumstance based on personal bias. All the same, if someone were to start turning up the thermostat or cutting out the lights, you would react, and so the same happens with the "moral" environment.

"Evil," which derives from the same root as "up" and "over," has a primary sense of "exceeding due measure" or "overstepping proper bounds."

Thus, I think that "evil" appears whenever someone takes a single idea (good or bad) and elevates it in principle so far above other human ends, common decency, and a sense of ethics that they are willing to do "anything" in support of this idea.

Even the most noble causes can lead to evil when they become all-consuming.

Evil will always triumph because Good is dumb.

This message has been brought you by Lunacy Ltd.

Join the Dark Side!!!
Go Slytherin!!!
Gollum rocks my socks!!
Yet I don't think I'm evil...

"Evil," which derives from the same root as "up" and "over," has a primary sense of "exceeding due measure" or "overstepping proper bounds."

Thus, I think that "evil" appears whenever someone takes a single idea (good or bad) and elevates it in principle so far above other human ends, common decency, and a sense of ethics that they are willing to do "anything" in support of this idea.

Even the most noble causes can lead to evil when they become all-consuming.
Like becoming so obsessed with feeding hungry orphans that you overfeed them?

Like becoming so obsessed with feeding hungry orphans that you overfeed them?
Yeah, and then there stomachs explode and you have to flush them down the toilet. They're very much like goldfish in that respect.

Yeah, and then there stomachs explode and you have to flush them down the toilet. They're very much like goldfish in that respect.
Orphans=goldfish
hmm...:confused:
aha!!!
normal people=flounder
Finally!!!

Evil is detrimental to life.

Evil is detrimental to life.
Life is detrimental to life, not necessarily evil.

The concept of absolute "good" and "evil" is flawed so I rely on the subjective "good" and "bad" when I need to make a judgment.

Good and evil are adjectives. Promise.

The concept of absolute "good" and "evil" is flawed so I rely on the subjective "good" and "bad" when I need to make a judgment.Me too. I then classify behaviors as "evil" when they become all-consuming--regardless of whether they are "good" or "bad" in themselves.

There is no "absolute" good or evil. But I do think there is something evil about absolutes.

There is only Zuul.
Fixed your typo for you.

We're talking active vs. passive here. Cold/heat and light/dark are passive concepts - they occur without intent. Good and evil have to actively pursued. There has to be conscious intent to do good or do evil.

It's all very simple. There are things that are good, like gravity, and there are things that are evil, like broccoli. Then there are things that are neither good nor evil, like salt. And there are things that are both good and evil, like Bugs Bunny. Does that clarify it for you?
http://www.profileking.org/smilies/53.gif

It's all very simple. There are things that are good, like gravity, and there are things that are evil, like broccoli. Then there are things that are neither good nor evil, like salt. And there are things that are both good and evil, like Bugs Bunny. Does that clarify it for you?
http://www.profileking.org/smilies/53.gif

Bugs Bunny is good!?

No, I'm not talking about a cosmic struggle.

It occurred to me a moment ago that if darkness is the absence of light, and cold is the absence of heat, there was no reason the same shouldn't apply for good and evil. So is good the absence of evil or is evil the absence of good? Or is my whole concept flawed?

For 1 good and evil is a matter of perspective.

Now it is impossible to have one without the other. So therefor 1 can't b the absence of another. If everything was good, then nothing would b good since u wouldn't have evil to compare it 2. And vice versa. For instance if every woman on the planet was drop dead sexy, then none of them would b since they would all b equal.

It really is subjective. Everybody knows that Barney the Dinosaur is Satan, but who didn't adore him when they were little? It's all subjective, and its all comparisons. Good, evil; pretty, ugly; large, small; fast, slow; all are percieved in relation to each other. If it was noon, and a bunch of people walked up to you and said it was midnight over and over, would you believe them? If you think your shoe isn't very big, then what does the ant think?

Let me tell you a story...
The man, in mid-stroke, stopped himself realizing what he was about to do, and began sobbing. "And that is good," the monk said.

That, was dumb. :D

It's all very simple. There are things that are good, like gravity, and there are things that are evil, like broccoli. Then there are things that are neither good nor evil, like salt. And there are things that are both good and evil, like Bugs Bunny. Does that clarify it for you?
http://www.profileking.org/smilies/53.gif


try telling bum and boobs that gravity is good!... ha!