Author Topic: Is man inherently good or evil? (Read 814 times)

Apache · « **on:** March 27, 2002, 03:31:57 PM »

A broad question indeed.

I'm only 43 years old and of that 43 years, 22 years now in law enforcement, both active and non-active (sitting at a stinkin' desk). I've seen some horrible thngs and it looks to me as if it's getting worse. Then again, maybe I simply took off my rose colored glasses of youth?

Interested in your thoughts. We have a unique spectrum of folks in our community on both sides of the fence and some who straddle it, lol.

Tumor · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2002, 03:33:21 PM »

qts · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2002, 03:38:00 PM »

At a very basic level, Man (as opposed to man) is inherently Good. Why? Because being Good - caring for our offspring and our kin - is Darwinisticly successful.

Bad men tend not to reproduce.

Rude · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2002, 03:41:45 PM »

I believe God's Word. Mankind fell from grace....our nature is evil in the eyes of a Holy God.

What we think or how we view ourselves is irrelevant to the truth.

Just my faith....everyone has freedom of choice regarding what they believe.

Sandman · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2002, 03:45:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by qts
At a very basic level, Man (as opposed to man) is inherently Good. Why? Because being Good - caring for our offspring and our kin - is Darwinisticly successful.

Bad men tend not to reproduce.

Lousy line of reasoning. If reproduction were my only goal, it would be in my best interest to sire as many offspring as I can and coerce/trick some other man into raising them for me.

Oh... my answer to the original question... I choose neither. I think men are inherently selfish. Getting past this selfishness is what makes us good parents.

One more thing... I've known a few pagans, satanists, and atheists. Some good, some not so good. Theology has absolutely nothing to do with their being good people (or not).

MrBill · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2002, 03:50:06 PM »

mrfish · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2002, 04:10:59 PM »

nature's totally indifferent.

it doesn't care if you're suffering or not. lots of other creatures cause suffering too, it's just that we've kinda hit on an idea - that if you agree to play to everyone else's benefit, then they'll play to yours.......and it's a let down to see the idea failing in practice.

i mean i could easily agree not to steal from any of you if you would too. then we could all leave our things unlocked and save major hassles - but there's always some idiot that thinks they alone will buck the system and then we all have to go into defensive postures to prevent it because if one f***s up then i have to suspect everyone and you have to suspect me. and that's the way it is today.

how stupid is that? wouldn't being able to live worry-free vastly outweigh the short term benefit of stealing my whatever? it all comes back to stupid people. as long as they're around, that world is impossible without a police state.

the bulk of us are just barely smart enough to recognize that life is more efficient and easygoing with some kind of order. we've still got to live with the ones that are too stupid to get that though. everyday i see people doing what is easiest for them even if it's at someone else's expense. you can tell they just - don't - get-it.

eventually one day maybe we will stop looking to the things like religion that polarize people and erect partitions between people and realize we are masters of our own destiny and play along for our own benefit. we have the ability to make heaven on earth if we were just smart enough to see it. we should take responsibility for our reality and stop tolerating the people who cause so much dissonance in it.

we should all take a hint from zarathustra.

qts · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2002, 04:28:17 PM »

At a very basic level, Man (as opposed to man) is inherently Good. Why? Because being Good - caring for our offspring and our kin - is Darwinisticly successful.

Bad men tend not to reproduce.

Gunthr · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2002, 04:31:06 PM »

I don't think Mankind is inherently evil. I'm leaning away from thinking mankind is inherently good, too.

Maybe we are niether.

Sundog · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2002, 04:34:45 PM »

Man is inherently Man. Good and Evil are subjective points of view.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2002, 05:22:28 PM »

If you are a pessimist, then all men are inherently bad.
If you are an optimist, then all men are inherently good.
If you are a realist, then all men have the ability to be good or bad.
If you are confused, you cannot form an opinion either way.
If you are manic, then one day they are all bad and the next they are all good.
If you are a manical biatch looking for a free ride, then all men are bait for your hook.

Bottomline: It's all a matter of perspective.

Doberman · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2002, 05:26:58 PM »

My line of thinking is similar to Sandman's. I think man is inherently selfish. That can manisfest itself as good or evil, depending on cirumstances.

D

AKSWulfe · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2002, 05:34:50 PM »

Man is inherently animal at the most basic level. The ability to think and produce long thought processes, along with speech, reading/writing, and an opposible thumb is what makes us evil.
-SW

Eagler · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2002, 06:07:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Doberman
My line of thinking is similar to Sandman's. I think man is inherently selfish. That can manisfest itself as good or evil, depending on cirumstances.

D

"man is inherently selfish"

Hit the nail on the head

Kratzer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2002, 06:50:09 PM »

I'd say man is inherently misguided.