Define evil

[Some guy from Ohio]

A friend of mine recently put me onto the writing of C.S Lewis and thoughts on morality. Having just scratched the surface of the author’s philosophy, I feel that he believed that humankind had an inherent bent towards good and basic morality was built into us. If we do indeed have a moral compass then one needs to know where “north” would point and that led me to question how evil is actually defined. The answer I have been given thus far is “Evil is the absence of good” which leads to a circular definition that goes nowhere. Maybe you can solve those pesky alignment questions, once and for all. How do you define “evil”?

 

[Kael]

The most basic definition of evil that I use is this: evil is the willingness to harm others for personal benefit (including pleasure) without remorse.

 

[Sir Elton]

A friend of mine recently put me onto the writing of C.S Lewis and thoughts on morality. Having just scratched the surface of the author’s philosophy, I feel that he believed that humankind had an inherent bent towards good and basic morality was built into us. If we do indeed have a moral compass then one needs to know where “north” would point and that led me to question how evil is actually defined. The answer I have been given thus far is “Evil is the absence of good” which leads to a circular definition that goes nowhere. Maybe you can solve those pesky alignment questions, once and for all. How do you define “evil”?

Evil? Selfish, Cowardly, Deceitful, Arbitary, Proud, and Worldly (there's one).

"When you combine selfishness with knowledge." another.

"When you frustrate all that is good." Another.

 

[Mark Chance]

Evil is that which aims at something at least perceived to be good without regarding the welfare of anyone who happens to get in the line of fire.

Check out Aristotle for Everybody and Ten Philosophical Mistakes by Mortimer J. Adler.

 

[diaglo]

How do you define “evil”?

the other guy.

the guy in opposition to what i think is right. the guy who opposes what i do.

 

[Some guy from Ohio]

The most basic definition of evil that I use is this: evil is the willingness to harm others for personal benefit (including pleasure) without remorse.

This was my first thought, but the argument can be made that a person in a war has to harm another (or kill) for personal benefit (preserving your own life) and may not feel remorse because the act had to be done to survive.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Real World: The ability to act on thoughts that most people would not even think about or would find shocking and cause revulsion in.

Game World: Cold-blooded murder, Cannibalism (includes life drinkers), torture, mind-control (includes slavery), dealing with outsiders.

 

[Sejs]

Overriding self-interest, to the point of malice.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

the other guy.

the guy in opposition to what i think is right. the guy who opposes what i do.

Sums up my view of evil pretty good.

"Boo!" is such a good term for this.

Anyone whose actions gets a "Boo!" reaction from me is Evil.

 

[dave_o]

I can't quite remember where I read this -- I think it was on a thread on another board entitled "What is the most evil thing you have done to another human being?"

But: "True evil is drowning [kittens, babies, etc.] not because you can't take care of them or don't want them, but because you are stronger than them."

Obviously, it might be a requirment for all villans ever to spout some form of this line.