This continues the "Debates galore" thread.

Question:

"What determines what is good and evil?"

The mores and customs of the culture you are defining it for..

For example, cannibalism was considered a good thing by many peoples. Eating your enemy gave you his strength and knowledge--it was a way to honor a worthy enemy, and a way to gain his attributes.

I also believe that good and evil is in the intent, not the practice. For example--stealing a loaf of bread to feed your starving children is not precisely evil, though stealing for the sheer greed of it is. Killing someone to defend yourself or your family is not necessarily evil--killing for the joy of killing is.

I guess, looking back at my own examples, it really breaks down like this: If you are doing something SOLELY for yourself, with no good coming of your action for any other person, then it is evil. If you are committing an act selflessly, to promote the wellbeing of others, then it is good.

Synnen

"If you are doing something SOLELY for yourself, with no good coming of your action for any other person, then it is evil."

So is masturbation evil?:D





Grace and Peace

Nope... because believe you me, I'm in a MUCH better mood after masturbation, which makes everyone AROUND me happier too.

Not being evolved to the point of not being open or connected to the universal mind leaves man to his own devices of the carnal mind. Like eating your enemy for instance, could be interpreted by a highly evolved individual as being, well, just a tad bit evil. There is only one mind and many, many brains, (transmitters of the one mind). The evolution of consciousness is a matter of connecting to the one, universal consciousness where there is no good or evil. When that is achieved, there is only ultimate reality or pure truth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Synnen

The mores and customs of the culture you are defining it for..

For example, cannibalism was considered a good thing by many peoples. Eating your enemy gave you his strength and knowledge--it was a way to honor a worthy enemy, and a way to gain his attributes.

I also believe that good and evil is in the intent, not the practice. For example--stealing a loaf of bread to feed your starving children is not precisely evil, though stealing for the sheer greed of it is. Killing someone to defend yourself or your family is not necessarily evil--killing for the joy of killing is.

I guess, looking back at my own examples, it really breaks down like this: If you are doing something SOLELY for yourself, with no good coming of your action for any other person, then it is evil. If you are committing an act selflessly, to promote the wellbeing of others, then it is good.

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I agree with Synn,

Children are born pure and parents by bringing them up a certain way makes the children accept an evil or good.

For example a child growing up with parents who fight in front of the children, the kids would not know any better.
Until they meet others in the society with a different view say in school/playground etc.

I have met some adults who think physically hitting a child as punishment is OK,because they were brought up to accept that concept.

So determining a good or evil begins at home, then continues into the larger community as a child gets in contact with other people and their views.
Children are inherently good,they are moulded by the environment and nurturing into an adult,some with a balanced character while others go one way or another.

As Synn said,
Mores and culture plays a very big role.

This is my interpretation of good and evil:

"The good side is the side you're on."

I don't think anyone (or at least almost anyone) would really do anything they themselves think of as pure evil.

Just as every cop is a criminal and all the sinners saints.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by worthbeads

This is my interpretation of good and evil:

"The good side is the side you're on."

I don't think anyone (or at least almost anyone) would really do anything they themselves think of as pure evil.

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I have to disagree, I have seen people choose to do something because it is considered evil by their culture/elders/religion.

But do they get anything out of it? I don't think they would do it without reason.

For example, a child might break something that belonged to his or her parents out of spite after the parents spanked the child. In the child's mind, he or she is probably thinking their rights have been violated and that they deserve to destroy property.

Worth,
Some do it because it is the in thing to be rebellious.
Others have reasons(childhood,friends,family,society etc) to rebel and join evil.
And yet others simply enjoy being evil.