Why?

Why? [+ favourites]

Why do people continue to wonder about the reasons that evil exists? Perhaps, instead of questioning the the existence of evil, we should look more closely at the existance of "good". If we are to disbelieve the creationist theories, and ignore the idea of intelligent design, then we are left with the chaos theory being the most prominent. Basically, there was nothing, a mishap (chaos) caused the creation of the universe from nothing. Chaos exists, no doubt. It seems that chaos IS our evil. What is seen as "evil"? Fire in its most dangerous BIG form; uncontrollable, therefore, evil. yet, it is simply chaotic. Its effects could be seen as evil as they don't fit in with out ordered daily life, yet fire has no will to destroy, it simply does. It has no intelligent mind that sets out to kill and burn.
-Jump ahead, past my justification of why chaos is seen as "evil" (it is not ordered) and come to my point. Why does good exist? People don't need to be good, do they? Why do people feel the need to do good? You earned what you have, yes? Why give it away to charity when you could make your own life better? You may argue that parents are good to their children by raising them, thus justifying the existence of good, yet this is a necessity to the survival of the species, as is so with ever other species that nurtures its' young.
Better yet, what is "good"? Is it order? Is it a desire to see everything work like clockwork - in exact synchronisation?
Why does good exist?

My take on good. Subjective good (one often found in religions/law) differs from culture to culture. Things like wearing a full-body robe for women is "good" for Islam, but not other religions. Hence it is subjective. Similarily, many more traditional western people would consider having a large stable family as "good". This type of good because of social norms more then anything else. People expect something of you, you conform and that is viewed as moral. If you do NOT conform, you are evil in the eyes of the conformists. This type of "good" will hopefully die slowly with time.

Absolute good, is any act done with the intention of helping others regardless of what happens to oneself. This type, ultimately originates from social expectations as well. They expect me to be good, they taught be its better to be good etc.. There is also likely a genetic predisposition of people being good or not, but its quite fuzzy.

Both types of good come mainly from the same things : norms, expectations and education.

"Durch Nacht und Blut das Licht"

spinning off of this a bit, assuming that there is good because there is evil and vise versa, would it be logical to also say that since there is "universe" there is also some sort of "non-universe" ? ...just a thought...

chaos = evil order = good
it sounds accurate, but it seems to me that human nature is to hate (or want to go against) order. would this in turn make everyone inherently evil? or perhaps simply chaotic.

"I am Akba-Atatdia"

Using the definition of "good" as the opposite of "evil".

It is through my experience that I believe many of the traits you seem to think are societal are insinctual in humans. Whether this is the result of thousands of years of societal rules, the current human has certain instinctual strengths and weaknesses, as do all animals on the planet.

That being said, I believe evil is the lack of empathy. It is the existance of life without the ability to empathize with other members of life.

Therefore, based on this definition, it is not created, but rather it is the result of lack of clarity. Lack of clarity of mind comes to many people, and all people to some degree.

This could then lead to the meaning of life (as Budhism believes). That the moment of Nirvana arrives when the soul is completely clear, and everything in and around the soul becomes understood.

Now, this may sound religious but "clarity" to me is just another word for intelligence. True logical intelligence leads to empathy, and the existance of good.

Lack of intelligence and an understanding of the world and everyone around it leads to evil.

This may not seem obvious at first, but if you psychoanalyze the evil of humans in the past or even in the present, you will see that it is the result of opportunistic miss-deeds and vengeful miss-deeds. Opportunistic for a lack of understanding of the repercussions of a selfish act, and vengeful for a lack of understanding of why selfish acts were done to you.

Evil is not tangible nor is good. There are varying degrees, and some things are deemed evil in certain societies and not evil in others. This is why it is impossible for me to believe the concept of a heaven or hell, because with so many grey areas it is highly unlikely that a greater being would ever be correct in judging anyone based on their actions. And a higher being wouldn't do something stupider than we would.

"Hating everyone protects me from elitism."

Good, much like love cannot be measured, nor 'explained'. If you can explain love, you are awesome.

Good is beneficial to one's health. If only evil and choas existed, we would be in hell.

If only good existed we would be in heaven.

Earth, is the combination, and it holds the ying and yang. The good and bad is 'present' in all humans, and animals.

Based on good, we have structure, Based on evil, we have the tearing down of the good structure.

Therefore, evil should be avoided and unyielded. To strictly believe it is present gives the illusion it is normal and can be an excuse for behavior cruel to another.




Good and evil, is much like love and hate. It has no clear definition, in that love and hate are emotions without logical explanation. Man needs logic, but cannot always utilise it.
In this case, it is not possible to explain the universe and why nor how it works.

"Even though is difficult, I can still dream."

Uhm, scientists and neuropsychologists have an explanation for love. It's a mixture of chemicals that are triggered by several different things. I could go into detail, however I'm tired. The answers are easily found on science/psychology sites/in books.

This is brief, yes, but delving any deeper than this superficial level would require science, and I am in the "religion" forum, after all. Science, when relatede to religion, never goes well.

Heh, "you are awesome." Yeah, what can I say.

"I am an apple"

"It is not possible to explain the universe blah blah blah" We human seem to be doing quite a good job of it on a scientific level with the whole quantum physics etc etc etc.
*agrees that breathe is awesome*
Your whole "earth is balance" point does not explain the existance of good. You say it is NEEDED for the world to work. Why? Everything sprung from chaos, remember (hypothetically) and we don't need good to survive (as I explained, mother taking care of young isn't good, just necessary) so why does good exist?

It can, but the question is: why is it necessary?

If I knew I wouldn't have posed the question... ugh, I'm being picky again... Not satisfied ever, probably a problem.

To see glass half full is good, to see it half empty is bad. We do seem to always see it half empty rather than half full.

But I sometimes wonder, to see it half full, this brings us peace and satisfaction, but does it not also make us lazy. Sometimes we need to take action, is this when we see the glass have full?

"A fool says I know and a wise man says I wonder."