Does good/evil (right/wrong) really exist?

Question

I thought this would be better dealt with if discussed without reference to a religion... I may have a disturbing opinion about this BUT please tell me what you think.

Like I said before, I do not believe in good/evil (right or wrong). In my opinion, they are the same and are only "determined" by the opinion of others. Therefore, I believe that there is no essential way to decide whether an act or deed is right or wrong. So I ask, "Is muder wrong?"

Most people would answer with convicion, " Yes".

If you were to ask me the same question, I would say,"No, human suffering is inevitable."

I am in no way condoning murder. I have already admitted that it is NOT right... but I also say that it is not wrong either (and thats where many of you disagree).

ATTENTION ** I am not encouraging the people who read this to go out and start killing people.**

Answer 1

You are definitely on the right track here. Many people seem to regard evil is a 'thing'... something that has some form of corporeal existence in the physical universe. In that sense, evil does NOT exist.

Evil 'exists' only as an abstract concept... one that is 'dualistic' in nature. 'Evil' cannot 'exist' without 'good'. They are the two sides of the same coin, in the Yin/Yang sense. One cannot 'exist' without the other; neither can be defined or described except in terms of the other.

Good/evil is further abstracted in the sense that it represents a 'judgement'... not a 'thing'. As a judgement, good/evil is wholly subjective, since it relies entirely upon the 'criteria' that is employed in making the judgement.

So, the real issue is not good/evil per se... rather it is the criteria that people use in making their judgements of good/evil.

Since we are pretty much all wired the same, and share pretty much the same cultural values in a larger sense, we usually find ourselves on common ground when we judge questions such as "Was Hitler evil?", since we can agree on the criteria. However, we should realize that if Hitler had been asked the question "Are you evil?", he most certainly would have been thoroughly offended by the very idea. According to HIS criteria, he would have seen his actions as good, for his people and for 'The Fatherland'.

When we get down to subtler questions, where someone's 'criteria' might depend upon interpretation of a particular bible verse, for example, these kinds of judgements can get a little stickier.

Remember, though... it's not really about good/evil,it's really about criteria... which ultimately comes down to one's moral compass.

Answer 2

Subjective. Though I'm sure most people would agree that cold-hearted murder is wrong, some people may consider the act defensible if the murderer had a reason that might touch the listener. Example: Someone kills a man who molests a child. Most people would agree that molester should be killed. But you will always find people who would say that the molester was sick and just needed help and shouldn't be killed. So, inevitably, it is subjective and always relies on the individuals feelings about the situation.

Good thing you put a disclaimer in there. LOL

Answer 3

I agree with you - right and wrong are relative, and the categories were created by human beings and their respective socio-cultural norms.

Personally, I think rape and murder are wrong.

But if an internal group, who consent that rape and murder are ok in their own way, the whole group agrees - you know what? Who am I to tell them it is wrong?

There are some groups in the world, where young boys fellate older men - because this ritual is where they get their manhood from, to grow up and be strong men through the elders semen. In some cultures, this would be wrong. In theirs, it fulfills a societal need for everyone.

Again - I don't believe right and wrongs are the same everywhere, for everyone. If all the members of the group agree - then let them be.

I'm sure as hell positive there are groups who think many of our "rights" are sinfully wrong - to each their own.

Answer 4

So, if I came over to your house, and stole all of your belongings, then kicked your puppy, and drowned your cat, you wouldn't think that was evil? There is good and there is evil. There is a difference!

Here's a joke that might put it into perspective. A cop pulled over an attorney for failing to stop at a stop sign. The attorney began to proclaim his innocence by saying, "Look officer, there was no cross traffic, and even though I didn't completely stop, I did slow down enough to make sure it was safe before crossing the intersection."

The cop then told the attorney that stopping was one thing, and slowing down was another.

Indignant, the attorney began to argue about there not being a legally sufficient difference between the two, and that unless the cop could demonstrate to his satisfaction that there was a legally sufficient difference between the two, he would not sign the ticket.

So, the cop asked the attorney to step outside the car, and then began to hit the attorney with his nightstick, and then asked, "Sir, would you like me to stop, or just slow down?"

In all seriousness, Jesus said this, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil."
(John 7:7)

Answer 5

Sure it does and you even know it does. Let me do some splaining Lucy....
Good and bad or good and evil and right and wrong are all perceptions. If you are raised to believe that killing innocent people is good and beneficial then your perception is that it is OK and are encouraged to kill innocent people. If you are raised to believe that killing innocent people is wrong then you might chose not to kill innocent people. Now the twist comes in. Today these people are innocent so they are no threat to you or your humble community. Tomorrow public perception may be they are not innocent and need to be killed so you either chose to kill them and be with your people or you chose not to and are shunned by your people. Now to your people you become the enemy and need to be killed.
It is a very vicious cycle but yes right and wrong exist but it all depends on where you are standing. One thing is certain and that is you have a choice and your people can not take that away from you no matter what.

Answer 6

On a spiritual level, I would say that good/evil does not exist. Things just "are".

On a societal level, I would say that yes, they do exist. Each society determines what it feel is right and wrong hopefully for the reasons of the survival and betterment of that society. On this level, I feel that there is definitely a right and wrong although the perceptions of what is right and wrong may change over time.

Answer 7

Mmm, well they don't exist as "forces" I'll give you that, but as ideas they're as real as anything. It's still a good guideline on how to live. If you go around doing "evil" things, people are (in general, there are exceptions) going to want to do "evil" things to you. As an atheist I'm especially concerned with this as I know this life is all I have. I don't want to screw it up making enemies who want to hurt me. In a way, I have even more of an incentive to remain "good" than a theist does. It leads to a better life for me (generally, again), and that's all I or anyone else has to look forward to.

Answer 8

You are correct. The only *objective* things you can say about actions and events are descriptive statements - i.e. what actually happened. Any kind of value judgments about 'right' and 'wrong' (i.e. moral viewpoints) are necessarily subjective, i.e. just opinions. This was proven long ago by Hume and others. Morals are prescriptive, not descriptive (e.g. "you ought not to do X"). It's impossible to get an 'ought' from an 'is' - i.e. it's impossible to objectively determine moral values from objective facts.

Answer 9

dude, someone that has a sister (siblings) one day decides to rape, murder and after he's done eat all the remains of that person....is that right or wrong?, is this person good or evil?, how could you say you don't believe in any of them, look around you and you'll see

Answer 10

My answer to your question: No, it doesn't. Good/evil and right/wrong are excuses humans use to justify what they're doing to others, to free themselves from their bad conscience. Someone always suffers from your actions. Always.

Bottom line: I absolutely agree with you.