What is evil?

[Sirius]

I've been drinking this evening so forgive me if what I say gets a bit meandering, disjointed, or otherwise strange.

Suffice to say I'm a bit of a dualist (philosophy; no I don't involve myself in duals!) so there is polarity in my world view.

 

Evil as a definition can be quite elusive.  Especially if you're attempting to craft a definition based on any religious doctrine

as this falls into the realms of morality that can be quite arbitrary, AKA thou shalt not suffer a witch to live; etc.).

 

Evil as the opposite of good?  meh, I think we can do better, especially as good can be just as murky to define.

 

Here's my stab at a definition that is simple, all encompassing, and works 91.87% of the time.

 

Evil is...premeditated activity that is knowingly harmful to society.

 

But what if you are being harmful to an individual?  Sorry, not evil.  It might be bad for the individual but good for society 

as is the case of imprisoning an outlaw.  The act of imprisoning an individual is bad for the outlaw but good for society at large.

 

So, based on this simplistic definition, what is an evil activity?

 

The manufacture, distribution, and selling of cigarettes would most definitely qualify.  Personal gain at the detriment of random 

consumers addicted to what you are pushing is not exactly an improvement on society in any measurable determination.

 

There is a saying that no drop of rain believes they are responsible for the flood.  Likewise, you have to wonder how many packs

of smokes you can sell before you notice a tarnish on your soul.

 

Let's turn that around and look at a good deed that was put forward.  Back in the early 80's somebody championed seat belt laws in 

the state of Michigan.  Back then only 14 percent of Americans wore seat belts and there was this fellow that wanted it to be a 

law that people had to wear seat  belts.  This fellow was compared to Hitler.  What he was pushing was antithetical to the 

values of freedom loving people of America.  Still, the legislation passed and the wearing of seat belts became mandatory in the

state of Michigan.  

 

This seat belt law saved the lives of quite a few people each year.  Year after year from the 1980s to the present day.  This saved

much in the way of sorrow, and money for quite a few folks at the cost of a very minor inconvenience to "buckle up."  I'd count

this, overall, as something good.  Anyone remember who it was that did this great deed?   Hahaha.  Good deeds are rarely

rewarded just as evil deeds usually go unpunished.

 

I guess you could wonder where I am going with this.  Good question.  I'll let you ponder that while I freshen by bourbon.

 

Ah, the pleasures of late night posting.  I'd make a blog but I doubt anyone would read my silliness.