How do you measure evil? 😈

[DarkRange55]

What is your yardstick?

 

[Dejected 55]

Don't know exactly... but intent is a big part of it. Animals that hunt and kill for food and survival are not evil... but hunting and killing can be evil when it is done for sport or oppression.

That's the easiest example that comes to mind.

 

[noname223]

In Germany we use the so called "Hitler scale". And if you measure Netanjahu with it you are going to jail - it is as simple as that.

A more serious answer. I am not sure. I am not sure I believe that there are good and bad people. On the one hand, people are complex. But would you agree that Hitler or Stalin were evil or is everything relative? I think the answer is in between.

Children can do horrible things to each other. Things we would consider really evil like murder. But most of them count as innocent. Actually, children can be really bad bullies. I can remember a story which I read on here.

A young girl maybe 10 was bullied in school, she tried to hang herself, survived and now has severe brain damage. Congrats to the parents who let that happen. I mean living with extreme brain damage. So her bullies visited her at the hospital to make fun of her. And there are countless stories of the 764 community. People who did undoubtedly evil things. But are all people who do evil things evil? It becomes complex.

My personal measurement scale is my gut feeling mixed with some logic and with the intent to contextualize things. Am I good in that? I don't know. I think I am also pretty judgemental and fast at coming to conclusions. My conscience is the result of a pretty rough biography. I often worry about being a horrible human being. And then I meet people who want to hurt me intentionally and I realize damn maybe I am not the worst person on earth. But many think of themselves often as innocent in conflicts me included.

 

[Dejected 55]

There are evil kids. People say kids that are bullies don't know better or will grow out of this. Know who says this? Adults who actively defend bullying as if it builds character for the victims. Adults don't like thinking about punishing kids the same way they eagerly punish adults for doing the same things. Kids know what they are doing. Any kid you think doesn't know better, you'd see how much they know if they were the victim instead of the perpetrator. Same as with adults. People defend awful shit they do to others but would have a screaming fit if it was returned to them.

There are kids and adults who can be redeemed. It happens. One size does not fit all. But you don't get a pass for evil, or you shouldn't get a pass for evil, because you are young or cute or whatever dipshit reason someone has for defending acts of evil. Many of your worst evil adults started with evil shit as a kid that could have been addressed or curbed if anyone paid attention and did something.

 

[itsgone2]

You could start with love and respect for others. Not having that would be a sign.
Or perhaps the opposite too, not doing the things to protect your family and neighbors from those that would harm.

 

[fujikofujiko]

I believe evil is the harm you do to others on purpose.
Not passive harm for just existing, or even uncaring, but gleeful malice and a lack of regard or respect for anything other than yourself.

 

[Arvayn]

I don't really believe in good and evil, but if I had to try and give evil a measure... Wow, this is hard. I can argue with myself on why any measure is potentially inaccurate and has a lot of nuance.

I guess, the degree to which one inflicts suffering and hardship onto others for no purpose other than the joy of it. Evil for evil's sake, if you will. If they have an actual logical reason to do it, no matter how selfish it is, I hesitate to call it truly evil.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I agree with others- it probably needs to have awareness/ intention and mallice behind it for it to be 'evil'. Fundamentally- I suppose it's a willingness to cause harm. And maybe it's by measuring that, that we judge our 'evil' a person is. How much harm are they willing to do? Manslaughter is different to a violent murder.

I also think the frequency with which the person commits comes into account. Someone who pulled another person's hair and teased them as a child but then grew up to be a relatively kind adult may not be as 'evil' as someone who regularly shouts at and hits their partner.

Repetetive wrong doings also demonstrate a lack of remorse. So- they can't truly be all that 'sorry' if they continue to act in the same way- knowing full well that their behaviour hurts others.

As to whether they are behaving that way complusively- say via a personality disorder, I guess that is more complicated. They didn't choose to have a personality disorder after all. However- we are still self aware creatures I tend to think. We can recognize if we are addicted say and we might do things to try and manage that condition. I feel like the same must apply to other things. A compulsive liar must realise they are lying. They must see the damage it does. Presumably, they'll only keep doing it because they don't really care about others.

It is kind of complicated though. Are some people more naturally 'evil' than others? Presumably, empathy or selfishness is maybe partly dictated by genes. Plus- upbringing. Neither of which we had any control over. So- I think it is complicated. Some people may genuinely be more prone to evil actions. While it may be easier for others to be naturally good and kind. What is more effortless to a person surely depends on their make up.

But then, I've thought that about any kind of judgement. Including religious judgement. It's such an uneven playing field. Some people have more addictive personalities. So- the temptation and vulnerability to say gluttony or lust may be far greater than another person. Some people live through terrible trauma and hardship. So- from the start- their likelihood to sin seems stacked against them. Do they still get judged against a person who had a far easier life? Say- they didn't sin much at all but then- they had very little temptation or reason to. It wouldn't be fair- surely to judge them both by the same standards. One was at a huge disadvantage to begin with.

It's such a difficult thing to judge though. Most people would agree that Hitler was evil. In his mind though- was he trying to eradicate something he believed was evil? If he truly believed the group of people he was trying to eradicate were all evil and subhuman themselves- in his own mind- did he realise what he was doing was evil? That's not to excuse it of course! But- it's complicated. Can a lunatic or someone acting on dellusion be evil? I imagine most people have an inner moral compass. But- how that compass is tuned can be very nuanced.

Unkindness towards another being of any sort is surely- to some degree- evil. But then, it's very difficult not to hold prejudices. Especially when we are actively encouraged to compete with one another. We are also taught to be entitled I think. So- when we feel like we're missing out on something we deserve- we're also taught to look for someone to blame and hate on. Sadly- evil is pretty much encouraged I suppose.

 

[Pluto]

 

[jazzcat621]

By what is anti-human or based on hate.