Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» If you think EVIL thoughts and pray for ill to befall others but never act on it are you GOOD? Is GOOD defined by action/inaction? Thoughts?
Good and Evil are artificial constructs, defined by society.
Slavery is a good example. We can't even claim that it was ever wrong, based on Christian beliefs, because it was allowed by God in the Old Testament. So for thousands of years it was ... well, if not "good", at least not "evil". Yet most people now believe it is "evil". Though there are still places that practice it, so they must believe it is "good".
Since society can't monitor thoughts ... then "good" and "evil" must be defined by actions.
I prefer ABSTRACT rather than artificial Walt. Artificial makes it seem fake phony cheap. Who would NOT agree that raping torturing and murdering a child is evil? Who doesn't agree that depriving children of their parents is cruel EVIL? Of course I mean only sane logical reasonable human beings. I do not pay attention to the dingbat wackadoodles because they are not logical. Being LOGICAL is not a construct, artificial or elsewise. It either is or it isn't. People either make sense when they talk or they don't. No abstract artificial anything there. Now LOGIC has rules just as math does. Just my opinion. I speak only for me not thee or others. Thank you for your reply and Happy Thursday! :)
Abstract = not having a physical form. Artificial = made or produced by humans. So I guess we're both right.
As far as logic ... "good" and "evil" are usually decided by religion more than logic. To take your examples using children ... the Inca and Mayan civilizations regularly sacrificed children to appease their gods. Even the God of Abraham demanded he sacrifice his son. Sure, God didn't go through with the demand, but Abraham was willing to do so. I know what you're talking about, of course. But it just demonstrates that "good" and "evil" are more situational than universal concepts.
Walt O'Reagun 