Man is inherently good/evil

cleanbluesky · 31 Jul 2007 at 10:56

DISCUSS

Sometimes it seems that people have a tendency to either help each other or try and destroy each other.

So, if you had to choose - would you say that the human race is inherently good or inherently evil (constructive vs destructive)?

cleanbluesky · 31 Jul 2007 at 11:03

KaHn said:
I come across as good but I am pretty evil.

Go on... you can't just toss that in without explanation

cleanbluesky · 31 Jul 2007 at 11:44

KaHn said:
Yes I can, because the things which make me evil are not very nice, and are parts of myself i keep to myself.

KaHn

So why do you continue to do them?

cleanbluesky · 31 Jul 2007 at 11:49

D.P. said:
People are born neither inherently evil or good, they simply exist. We as adults invent the terms good and evil, for the concepts do not exist in the animal world.

What is good and evil is determined by society and chnages with society.

The concept of good and evil also require non-deterministic human behavior.

Although indulgin Freud for a second, Eros and Thanathos within the ID would suggest that humans have both constructive and destructive impulses - perhaps what we know as 'good and evil'?

cleanbluesky · 31 Jul 2007 at 11:50

Dolph said:
Man as a group is neither, a man as an individual can be either

Why the perceived difference between man as a group and man as an individual?

cleanbluesky · 31 Jul 2007 at 11:57

Dolph said:
Man as a group encompasses the average behaviour of all those within the group. I would argue strongly that the group as a whole is neutral and balanced. There are both good and evil people within the group, and that is why you cannot say 'man is good' or the opposite and have it have any meaning.

Judging the actions of an individual is a lot simpler.

Do you mean 'mankind' or ANY given group?