Mercurius
Legend
Ahh, a big subject: What is "evil?" Does it even exist? Is it subjective?
I don't think there's a right answer, except maybe in a specific context. I mean, if we're talking about D&D, it is whatever the rules say (e.g. Alignment) and/or what the DM says, as far as their campaign is concerned.
So I tend to think it is on us to decide, whether as individuals or DMs. We can look to literature and film for different perspectives. For instance, for Tolkien evil was mostly about domination - enforcing one's will over others. That was the "fall" of both Morgoth and Sauron. Morgoth actually wanted to subvert Iluvatar's creation itself - to mold the Song of the Ainur to his will, and in his own image (rather than Iluvatar's vision). Sauron was a bit more down to earth in that he seemed "only" to dominate earthly life -that is, Middle-earth. I think Tolkien said something in The Silmarillion about Sauron only being less evil than Morgoth in that he served another - but this changed with Morgoth was cast into the Void and Sauron became the big bad guy.
But for Tolkien, domination is key - especially with regards to "free peoples." Not sure how he felt about domination over animals, and beings of (supposedly) "lesser sentience." I would think the nature of free will and sentience would be crucial. Meaning, regardless of whether or not it is evil to dominate a cow, Tolkien would probably believe it is, at least, more evil to dominate a human, elf, dwarf, or hobbit. I would also guess that he would think factory farming and such were "evil."
Now in the case of your alien species, maybe they see humans in a similar way that we see cows. Maybe humans lack something that makes them--to this alien species--"not people." I would play with the hivemind angle...that they view this as the threshold for being a true people, and thus worth of ethical behavior.
I don't think there's a right answer, except maybe in a specific context. I mean, if we're talking about D&D, it is whatever the rules say (e.g. Alignment) and/or what the DM says, as far as their campaign is concerned.
So I tend to think it is on us to decide, whether as individuals or DMs. We can look to literature and film for different perspectives. For instance, for Tolkien evil was mostly about domination - enforcing one's will over others. That was the "fall" of both Morgoth and Sauron. Morgoth actually wanted to subvert Iluvatar's creation itself - to mold the Song of the Ainur to his will, and in his own image (rather than Iluvatar's vision). Sauron was a bit more down to earth in that he seemed "only" to dominate earthly life -that is, Middle-earth. I think Tolkien said something in The Silmarillion about Sauron only being less evil than Morgoth in that he served another - but this changed with Morgoth was cast into the Void and Sauron became the big bad guy.
But for Tolkien, domination is key - especially with regards to "free peoples." Not sure how he felt about domination over animals, and beings of (supposedly) "lesser sentience." I would think the nature of free will and sentience would be crucial. Meaning, regardless of whether or not it is evil to dominate a cow, Tolkien would probably believe it is, at least, more evil to dominate a human, elf, dwarf, or hobbit. I would also guess that he would think factory farming and such were "evil."
Now in the case of your alien species, maybe they see humans in a similar way that we see cows. Maybe humans lack something that makes them--to this alien species--"not people." I would play with the hivemind angle...that they view this as the threshold for being a true people, and thus worth of ethical behavior.