The Philosophy of Good and Evil in Humanity
Metaphysics and Humanity's Search for the Meaning in and of Life
Oct 5, 2009
Evil has always been with humanity. From the first man who walked upon the earth up to the present day, evil has been part of life. Many believe that evil is everywhere and, while good is also in abundant supply, evil will never totally be removed from society. The two are part of an alignment of forces; they compliment each other, and therefore they both must exist.
Can the Problem of Evil Ever Be Removed From Human Society?
Many of the arguments that discuss evil being removed from the world are interesting, and they do have some merit. However, they are flawed in many ways. The main opposing argument, which discusses evil and good in the context of not being choices, fails to see that not everything can be evil or good. There must be a balance.
Whether something is good or evil is determined by society and whether society has made that decision correctly or incorrectly is irrelevant. The person who committed the deed lives in society, and therefore society must judge that person according to the rules that have been established. Most of those rules relate to good and evil. While they may not be forces that can be seen, society has created them and given them names, and that must be upheld.
The second main argument that deals with evil leaving society mentions free will and how good and evil do not come into play. Some believe this argument is also flawed, in that free will is what gives people the ability to make the choice between good and evil. Without free will, there would be no options, because people would only be able to act one way - the way that they were created to act.
With free will, they can choose the good path that they have basically been created to follow, or they can choose the evil path and shun the teachings and opinions of others, instead deciding to live their lives just the way that they want to, with no regard for the laws and rules of society. Good, evil, and the nature of free will has been discussed both online and off. Much is still to be learned by modern-day philosophers.
The Philosophy of Evil in Humanity Has Always Been a Problem
Another argument against evil remaining in the world states that evil has not always been with humanity, and it can therefore be removed from humanity again. This is simply not feasible. There is the consideration that evil has always been with us, but was not utilized until there was a need for it.
Just because it was not seen in the world when people were first created does not mean that it did not exist. It was there, it just had not been used yet. Once it found a way to be seen, however, it soon spread to others, and they did evil deeds as well as good ones.
Philosophically, there is no sensible or absolute way to remove evil from the world. It has always been in the world, as a complement to good, and so it will remain. It is a part of humanity itself, and without it, something would be lacking in society.
Even though evil is not something that people say they want it must be there, so that everyone will appreciate and understand the good things they are given. Even in the face of evil, there are still some good things to be found, and without the presence of evil in society, the good would never be seen.
Resources on the Philosophy of Good and Evil in Humanity
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