Why do you, or why do you believe others do, think it's subjective?
How subjective is it?
Whose standards are fair, or acceptable?
Is there usually selfishness behind the assertion of evil as subjective?
Is there much disingenuousness is the assertion?
What could be the effects on society if the subjectiveness was largely accepted as valid?
If evil is subjective, may you judge right and wrong?
May you judge others' concepts of right and wrong?
2006-10-20 07:48:41 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I suppose people believe evil to be subjective because that way, they can justify an action or belief; for example, some people believe abortion is evil. Hence, they think it should be illegal, but they don't consider the situation of the female who is getting the abortion--maybe she's destitute, diseased, etc.
I don't think there are really any 'standards' that are fair or acceptable; rather, I think most people just go by gut instinct over whether something is 'right' or 'wrong'. Something that seems horribly wrong, e.g., a killing, is usually considered evil; on the other hand, there are those who believe in the death penalty.
I do think it is subjective; different people have different ideas about what evil is, or how evil something is. I don't think it's subjective to the degree where someone can stand at the scene of a brutal slaying of a young, innocent child and say that's not evil, but definitely there are varying degrees.
People already judge what they think to be right and wrong. Since I consider evil to be subjective, I don't think I'd have the right to judge right and wrong, although I would certainly have my opinions.
2006-10-20 07:56:51 · answer #1 · answered by geode finder 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Evil is subjective because every action considered at some level and divorced from the motives for it, can be seen as morally defensible. It is only if you become very specific about details that some actions seem to be evil and completely indefensible.
Does this mean that there is no right and wrong? Absolutely not, just because philisophically you can defend killing someone does not make all killing defensible.
People adopt the standards that they are brought up with for the most part. Societal differences lead to much conflict. Some sections of human society see no problems with the subjagation of women, but strictly forbid the consumption of alcohol or stimulants. Who is right and who is wrong is largely determined by the weight of opinion in a society, whether it be the elite or the majority enfocing the mores.
I believe that the assertion that evil is objective is at least a selfish as the subjectivity of evil. As the person who says evil is objective is normally using their standard of reference.
2006-10-20 10:57:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the moral foundation you start from...
As to motive....so that those who accept the ideal of subjectivity, will explain the real presence of evil away....Why else?????
Standards are an evolving serpent of purpose..the motivation of which can be seen through history to change with the perceptions of a group or groups usually having the most influences over the mass of society.
Right and wrong have very defined boundaries for most people already...the challenges to those boundaries are the arguments of subjectivity...Evil is...
2006-10-20 08:24:15 · answer #3 · answered by tincre 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you see the truth beyond reasonable doubt that the confused mind is the one doing evil deeds.(greed, anger jealousy, divisive, deceptive and many more negative attitudes) that are destructive to itself and everybody, then it is an objective facts that evil is the product of subjectivity not by any imagined entity outside the self. Everybody will be observant and careful in ones decisions, then a true respect to everyone is born.
If everybody or majority of the people see the truth that evil starts from the mind, then everybody will not blame others or imagined being but themselves.
I want to emphasize that right or wrong are subjective judgments.
What is right for you might be wrong for me. Right from a group might be wrong from another groups.
Judgment based on your conditioning's is always subjective or bias.
2006-10-20 11:22:02 · answer #4 · answered by ol's one 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of Course evil is subjective. One you say the word Evil you've already left objectivity behind since defining something as Evil is a moral judgement. However any given act must be judged on it own merits. Is a mother smothering her crying baby to protect a bus full of orphans escaping from soldiers hunting them wrong?
2006-10-20 08:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by Scott L 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Evil is a deception of the church. It has no real base of fact in itself. Eg We slaughter animals for food (without providing them with true freedom). If we slaughtered an alternative genome of human for food we would be evil, yet 200 years ago we happily used them as slaves (under church guidance) and gave them no value as a human. If you study catholic church history you will get a good, if not confusing history. Until 1820 we were burning people as witches! Would you describe this as evil? Is it evil I just voted against everybody else! Ha HA HA.
2006-10-20 11:52:43 · answer #6 · answered by interested_party 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nearly everything not measured with numbers is subjective. If one believes that evil is subjective, do you really think they believe in definite measures, black and white, right and wrong?
2006-10-20 08:05:52 · answer #7 · answered by reverenceofme 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not very
Society (sorry that's the way it is)
No, its usually despair
Yes, persistence of belief is rampant
Anarchy - not as much fun as it is cracked up to be
If it is, yes, but only for me, but it isn't
Yes, add a bit of divine command or what ever ethic you choose to #2 above.
2006-10-20 07:55:14 · answer #8 · answered by Squid Vicious 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋