Are people inherently Good or Evil?

I think that if people knew that if they did something, and they knew that they would NEVER EVER be found out for it, then they would do it.

Neither, because you just get into the argurment of what is good and evil. Both are supported on every individuals specific belief in faith and morals.
What I think is evil you may believe is good and vice versa.
So my answer is, neither.

Does this question even need to be asked?


Evil/bad/violent/etc.

but then the (slow!) poll results in what i say!!

People are inherently human, and the concepts of good and evil are human inventions. We're inherently both.

I think people are inherintley good as it has more social benifits and humans are a social species. If there were no society we couldn't control ourselves and chaos would ensue. Just try and think of life if society didn't exist!

People are neither inherently good or bad but they are inherently incapable of thinking through the ramifications of what they do whether singularly or en masse.

I disagree. What you are saying is people aren't capable of looking at their actions based on the outcome? The choice is really based on the ramifications, that's how we make choices, and generally we choose everything we do. On a basic level weight the outcome; would this yield more positive then negative result, if so then it must be good, if not then is it worth it (does the one or two positives outweigh the many negatives). Now you could argue that just because it is a good outcome for you does not make the act just or good. To that I would say: In most cases (normal non-drain bramaged people) we know that causing others harm/discomfort ect. is wrong. Why you ask? Well by hurting someone or stealing or doing whatever random bad act you want we are openley showing others that this act is acceptable in our eyes. We are saying It's OK to murder or whatever. We are also telling ourselves it's ok. When we constantly tell outselves its ok we will become habitual (the act becomes a habit). We also look at the act from our own point of view. It's not OK to murder because I would not like someone to murder me (but that is a very self serving argument).
SUNRISE's CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: Come up with an argument that tells us why "bad" acts are wrong.
Note This argument can't contain anything to do with society at large ie. laws, punishment ect. Base your anwser on a personal descicion only considering the person(s) you are acting upon. This could also get into defining vices and virtues but I don't want to get into that nast stuff unless I have to.

PS-It is worthy to mention that in doing good or bad acts we again become habitually good or bad.

good; society and, to an extent, capitalism, teaches us to be greedy and stuff and junk.

By my previous statement I meant that although people can see through to the short term outcome of their action, they rarely do the long term.Im trying to distinguish here between small acts of kindness and opportune moments of misconduct with say the way in which mankind treats the envirinment.




(departs for work 07.07 GMT)

Dreaming will get you nowhere

I have always thought it is easy to find good ppl. But lately I am wondering if everyone even me are EVIL central. The are good ppl but there either dead or in church.

Originally posted by Entropy|BuF
Neither, because you just get into the argurment of what is good and evil. Both are supported on every individuals specific belief in faith and morals.
What I think is evil you may believe is good and vice versa.
So my answer is, neither.

Click to expand...

Well, then you head into a quandary that they is no good or evil and hence no right or wrong (universal right or wrong mind you). Then you get the problem of people doing whatever they want and then you have no basis for saying what they did was right or wrong. And thusly you really can't punish them, you can only force your right/wrong on them if you happen to be stronger.

Soon after all morals disintegrate and the only thing left is to look out for number one. This leads to a society which only looks after itself and there is no reason to contribute to the greater good of the whole.

Originally posted by SUNRISE
I think people are inherintley good as it has more social benifits and humans are a social species. If there were no society we couldn't control ourselves and chaos would ensue. Just try and think of life if society didn't exist!

Click to expand...

You just contradicted yourself. If we are basically good, why would we degenerate to chaos if there were no society?

I think you're going a little overboard there, Thrakhath. You seem to be forgetting that you currently live in a society that is not based on what you call a universal right and wrong. Instead it has been, and continues to be, a society created from a consensus of people with different views and beliefs. And so far, we haven't fallen into a state of moral chaos, as you describe.

Allison is right not all ppl go by the Yes this is right & no this is wrong, they do it coz they either need money or they need drugs or there just crazy. Whatever the case ppl do what they do coz there know it is wrong or coz the have too to feed there kids and family. There will never be a society that will be perfect, together, think on the same plain or think alike. That is what makes us "us".

When humans are free to do what they want without social pressure or laws they are selfish and cruel. They steal, they rape, they kill, they even torture just for fun.

It's only education, ethnics and social pressure that turns (some of) us into 'civilized' beings. Take that away and we're still animals.

It may sound funny, but one thing that reassured me that humans are evil is the internet and online gaming. In the anonymity of internet forums (w/o moderation) or online gaming server people are free to develop their private little Mr. Hide: Where nobody can punish them, they troll, they cheat, they give their best to piss everybody off and ruin the place, they code aimbots and viruses, they visit and post the most disgusting webpages you can think off. Really sick stuff.

Humans are inherently neutral, and the world that we live in shapes wether we become good or bad. Someone's balance is judged by the path their life takes, it's not pre-determined

Evil, most definitely. If we're naturally good, why on earth do our parents and teachers have to spend years hammering it into us? If we're naturally good, why do we have to be threatened with the bears eating us up, or Mr. Scissorhands cutting off our thumbs, or God sending us to Hell for eternity?

Humans are inherently neutral and their morality is formed by their culture/education.