Are humans inherently good or inherently evil?

[Dylan Blackler]

Yes, Definitely people are generally evil (bad), look at our history full of war and betrayal

 

[retyopy]

This thread socks.

You said it.

I think OP should think before s/he posts.

Well, thanks for the constructive critiscm then. You really explained a lot.

SA-LASH A-SARCASM

Good and evil are human concepts, and relative ones at that. Birth is a biological process. Can't reconcile the two.

And the idea of Good and Evil needs to exist, or else we would have no morality. And chaos would ensue.

That still doesn't mean they exist as objective phenomena. Nor should they be considered to exist.

And chaos generally ensues in the absence of moral relativism.

Well, that's my point, isn't it? They may not exist, but the concept holds our society together.

Calling a newborn inherently good or evil holds our society together? I thought condemning the actions of those who perpetrate harmful acts as evil did that.

It's a real puzzler.

Well, you're moving back to the orginal point of the thread, instead of hearing what I'm saying. You were dismissing concepts of good and evil as nothing but human thoughts. Or at least that's how I took it.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

They are inherently "human". Meaning they do whatever they need to in order to fulfill their human desires.

 

[Killertje]

We want stuff: Evil.
We do nice stuff for others: Good.
We do nice stuff for others because we want something from them: Evil.
We want something because it makes the world a better place (which makes us happy): Good.

What are we? Both. Some a little more good than evil or vice versa, but all in all we're both at the same time.

 

[Xanadu84]

Babies are born with rational self interest. That is neither good nor bad. As they grow up, their rational self-interest becomes more logical and considers more factors. Depending on certain environmental and innate factors, this can look like either good or evil.

 

[Funky Flump]

Im gonna say good, because most people I know would help you rather than not! Im mean not sacrifice their life or anything, but hold a door open etc.

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

We are inherently good in our perception of ourselves. Even the most self-demeaning of us all secretly love themselves.

 

[similar.squirrel]

This thread socks.

You said it.

I think OP should think before s/he posts.

Well, thanks for the constructive critiscm then. You really explained a lot.

SA-LASH A-SARCASM

Good and evil are human concepts, and relative ones at that. Birth is a biological process. Can't reconcile the two.

And the idea of Good and Evil needs to exist, or else we would have no morality. And chaos would ensue.

That still doesn't mean they exist as objective phenomena. Nor should they be considered to exist.

And chaos generally ensues in the absence of moral relativism.

Well, that's my point, isn't it? They may not exist, but the concept holds our society together.

Calling a newborn inherently good or evil holds our society together? I thought condemning the actions of those who perpetrate harmful acts as evil did that.

It's a real puzzler.

Well, you're moving back to the orginal point of the thread, instead of hearing what I'm saying. You were dismissing concepts of good and evil as nothing but human thoughts. Or at least that's how I took it.

Wait, are you asking whether we should label people as inherently good or evil?

 

[Dasrufken]

I believe the show Community have already answered this question.


humans are selfish people.

 

[veloper]

Inherently stupid.
Then account for a small percentage who are a bit less stupid and more evil than the rest and you get our world's history.

 

[ThePirateMan]

Blank slate. How a human acts in life depends completely on the conditions and experiences that they've had throughout their life.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Alright, so when people are born, are they good, evil, or are they a blank slate?

Neither. People are born with some qualities but they are neither good nor bad. It is society that labels this qualities as "good", "evil" and such.

Imagine simple experiment : does "good" and "evil" still applies when you're alone on completely uninhabited island ?

 

[veloper]

Alright, so when people are born, are they good, evil, or are they a blank slate?

Neither. People are born with some qualities but they are neither good nor bad. It is society that labels this qualities as "good", "evil" and such.

Imagine simple experiment : does "good" and "evil" still applies when you're alone on completely uninhabited island ?

Possibly evil can exist, if you torture small animals on the island for no reason but your own enjoyment.

 

[ultimateownage]

We're born neutral, except for our individuality, and we grow to become unbalanced.

 

[BodomBeachChild]

We adapt to what we grow up around. Depending on yer belief in how humans work... we're only civilized in communities and in groups and outright dicks on our own... or vice verse.

 

[Charles McGuffin]

Inherently stupid. At least that's for sure.

 

[Spritzey]

Depends on how much you believe Freud.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Alright, so when people are born, are they good, evil, or are they a blank slate?

Neither. People are born with some qualities but they are neither good nor bad. It is society that labels this qualities as "good", "evil" and such.

Imagine simple experiment : does "good" and "evil" still applies when you're alone on completely uninhabited island ?

Possibly evil can exist, if you torture small animals on the island for no reason but your own enjoyment.

Modification : "Blue Lagoon" scenario. You were stranded at very young age. It's uniportant how you survived, you just did. You don't remember any people. You were never introduced into concepts of society, morality, ethics, good, evil etc. There's noone to judge your actions.

Does "good"/"evil" apply ?