2006-10-15 19:06:31 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I collect dictionaries.
The def'n.s I have read all use other synonyms that are statements of emotional opinion (like 'bad' and 'wrong')
2006-10-15 19:20:25 · update #1
Evil is determined essentially by your preferred moral code. If the Law determines your morality then those things / actions that fall outside of the Law, might be considered 'evil'. If your moral code is decided by a strict religious edict, then your concept of evil will likely be determined by the religious guidelines you adhere to.
We all have personalised ideas of morality, some much stricter than others. For example: Someone from the Amish community may believe that the television is a technological highway paved especially for the transport of Evil. They may see the ideas and views expressed through the television as the work of 'evil-doers' and for the promotion of 'evil'.
On the other hand, an archaeological reporter may view the television as an excellent medium by which to educate, inform and raise public awareness to his effort to preserve ancient Mexican, Xapotec artifacts from destruction.
It all depends where you draw your lines of morality - from that point 'evil' will range widely from person to person.
At the end of the day, the idea of 'Evil' is a word we use to label the things that land outside of our decided moral foundation, and is most often traced back down to our core beliefs.
2006-10-15 20:46:25 · answer #1 · answered by quay_grl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
evil
[Middle English, from Old English yfel.]
adj., e·vil·er, e·vil·est.
1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.
n.
1. The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
2. That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction: a leader's power to do both good and evil.
3. An evil force, power, or personification.
4. Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction: the social evils of poverty and injustice.
adv. Archaic.
In an evil manner.
2006-10-16 02:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The definitions leave out the obvious - it is the intent of the matter - nothing is inherantly good or evil. It depends on why the action was completed. In the moral field right usually tends to have an altruistic ending doing good for the rights of many people usually at a cost of personal sacrifice and evil being on the selfish individual side.
2006-10-16 02:58:00 · answer #3 · answered by goodnevili 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means a little more than that, but largely, you're right. Evil is a completely subjective designation.
However, you can't reasonably call the taste of postage stamps or the sound of a dripping faucet evil, no matter how much you dislike them. Evil entails a powerful force of will and absolute intention behind the action. If you like the result, it's heroic, brave, or Good with a capital G. If you don't, you condemn it as evil.
2006-10-16 02:19:47 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It could have other meanings depending on what you believe about it. Alot of people believe that spiritual realities are just as real as what we can see with our eyes. If you believe in the bible - then evil is anything that is counter to the nature of God Himself and what He has revealed to us. Alot of people believe it's more than a matter of opinion. If there is a God - it's not a matter of opinion now is it? If there isn't a God - most certainly everything is a matter of opinion. Only the assertion that God exists could make anything any more than that. Murder, rape, stealing - it's all a matter of opinion. In the end - that line of thinking would result in mass chaos - no accountability - no rules for right or wrong - no laws to stop anybody from doing whatever they want based on their opinion - therefore I don't think it's the best philosophy.
2006-10-16 02:12:37 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
On the contrary, it means - even though I may like it, it is undesirable and unwanted because of the adverse impact it is likely to have.
A philosophical view is that an evil thought has an adverse impact directly on the subjective person and indirectly on the object. An evil act, on the other hand, directly harms others and indirectly harms the evil-doer.
2006-10-16 03:49:08 · answer #6 · answered by small 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I personally consider evil to be anything that is both painful and unnecessary (I mean any kind of pain not just physical). It has to be both though something can be painful but necessary and vice versa. An example would be if someone needed a limb cut off that is painful but necessary, but to do it an inch at a time would be evil because that is both painful and unnecessary.
2006-10-16 02:16:16 · answer #7 · answered by sjp_amor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "evil" carries the connotation of bad of the sake of bad, as in under the influence dark powers. Outside of its religious usage it looses its meaning.
2006-10-16 02:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Evil is selfishness (free will). This is the root of evil, our ignorant self that is making these chaos in the world. war criminality, famine. rich and poor, respected and dispensable. divisions at all levels of existence, worshiping exclusiveness. all the destructive activities against life and everything.
2006-10-16 08:51:59 · answer #9 · answered by ol's one 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are ascetic and spiritual in true sence, then evils for you is what you dont like. Evil in broader sence means undesirable to the society.
2006-10-16 02:23:10 · answer #10 · answered by thinkpose 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋