Who decides what is "good" and what is "evil"?

Question

I don't believe in good and evil, things are just the way they are, but i think society decides what is wrong and what is right for the greater majority of the people. What do you think? Who created the concept of evil and why does it differ from culture to culture?

Answer 1

You do......

Answer 2

Human Beings created the concept of evil. It is just a concept not an absolute truth so it changes according to culture, beliefs and mind set. The concept of evil is used by the human mind to keep us wrapped up in fear and anger so that we will not know the true power, beauty and majesty of our own spiritual nature. In this way our small human minds can feel in control.

Answer 3

Yes, it was society . . . cultures around the world have very different concepts of what is morally acceptable and what is not. In some cultures some forms of adultery are considered acceptable -- and I don't mean polgymy or ployandry, either. What the majority of an isolated people believes is acceptable behavior is considered "good" and what isn't is considered "evil," and people don't usually like painful things, so that is why things like self-mutilation, crime, and such are usually considered "evil."

Answer 4

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 5

Things are the way they are on this earth. But some think society does decide what is wrong and what is right, but that's only for the people who care about what society thinks about them. It's not society who will decide whether you go to heaven or not it is God, the almighty. God created the concept of evil because it's true and it differs because when jesus started the catholic church some people disagreed with him and the diciples so they branched off.

Answer 6

I strongly believe in Good and Evil. It is evil to kill. But it is neccesary to kill in order to survive. We must kill animals to eat. And if a person is a vegetarian, they must kill plants to survive. It is evil, but sometimes evil is nessecary. It is in nature to be evil, and so, evil is good. Even ants go to war with other colonies over a shady place in the desert. It is survival of the fittest. I think only plants are not evil, because they make their own food. They don't kill to survive. There are few universal concepts of evil, and few universal concepts of good. And in between are many situations that may be evil in one situation but good in another. Who decides what is "good" and "evil"? Society decides this based on how certain actions affect people, society, nature, or the planet. To me, evil is an action that harms another being. And good is something that benifits another being.

Answer 7

If only I knew. Have been trying to solve that problem for years. Hope you do not expect to find the answer here. The best that can be learned is the first step, and even that may be wrong. But what a fascinating journey this will be! Keep going!

Answer 8

Unfortunately, it is those with power who decides what is good and what is evil.

Take Christianity. For thousands of years, slavery was totally acceptable. In fact, it was justified by the Bible. Same with killing your enemies. Justified by the Bible.

Now, society is no longer run by the Catholic Church. Because they have lost their power, slavery became a horrid practice. Not because the Church changed its mind, but because those with power changed their minds about the concept of slavery.

Answer 9

Quality. What works best propigates. What doesn't work perishes, hopefully without having 6 babies first. This applies to all systems, from molecular, to biological, to people and societies, and to the workings of the mind and creativity.

Answer 10

I agree, wholeheartedly. Why is prostitution against the law in some places and not others? Who decides whether it is right or wrong? Society does. I don't think of God as a judgmental entity, but rather an energy source of unconditional love. Nor do I believe in satan or hell.

Answer 11

Some cultures are filled with evil. Generally they are Godless cultures or cultures built around a violent and malevolent god.

Of course you can believe... we just happened and everything in life is totally meaningless...

But where did love come from... Algae?