Good and Evil/Yin and Yang.

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Kiras Return
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Good and Evil/Yin and Yang.

Post by Kiras Return »

The battle between good and evil, the Yin and Yang of this life, world etc....It is often easy to claim someone to be bad, evil, etc..., but let us consider this question. Could it be possible that perhaps good and evil are both seeking the same thing? Let me give you an example. Protection, Freedom, and knowing that you will not have to fear about food, water, etc...Knowing that you, your loved ones, and those around you will be taken care of. These things are generally things we think of as good things and when thinking of a leader, or someone that will be in control of your nation you'd expect, even demand that these qualities be very high inside of them. Now then consider if your leader gave you these things by heavily patrolling the towns, and by keeping an always watchful eye out for any sign of a threat, and the punishments for this were swift, and harsh to prevent such crimes in your nation. The general rule of law would be as long as you are not harming someone else than you are free to do as you please in an orderly way, yes mistakes will happen someone will be occasionally treated poorly, or wrongfully convicted of a crime, no system can, will, or has ever not been guilty of this from time to time, acceptable losses you might say, but back on topic.

The people in this nation may think it cruel, may think that this leader is some evil, maniacal, person, but in truth this person simply wants to keep everyone safe, their goal is not to make them feel like they are in a prison, it was simply the result of what happened to create a truly as safe as possible nation. This individual saw for example the mass violence in America and western Europe, and saw that by allowing people the opportunity to start, or even organize these events, and knowing the possible results that could happen in an instant, that the fact the opportunity was allowed, the fact that there were not enough police heavily armed to quickly, and swiftly prevent, or at least stop it itself was immoral and unforgivable! People have been seriously hurt, and killed by these violent events, stores have been robbed, burned and completely destroyed, that had nothing to do with these events. Different ethnical groups have been attacking each other on sight just for their skin color, so to end this, this individual did everything possible once in charge to create a place where these types of events would be far less likely, and much more easily stopped if they occurred, but would in doing this, would he be oppressing people, simply because it may appear that way from the outside, or because of the public's feelings? Would this in turn make this individual a bad, evil, etc. person?

I'd like to thank all of you that took the time to read/reply to this post, it's my first post and I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts.
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Jackdeber
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Re: Good and Evil/Yin and Yang.

Post by Jackdeber »

Yea I think that although there is an element of that idea already present in society (we in democracy are just holiding back the flood gates).

I believe that this kind of extreme existence can only start to be considered moral (which I think it instrinaically isn't, and there in lies the problem) if it was considered that there was no solution to governing a society.

I think we have found a less flawed solution (not perfect) solution in our most if the western world. But I still like to hope that there is a more freeing answer.

However I conclude that your example is a little restricted in its scope to fully discover if good and evil are the same thing. In this example I would say no they are not.
snt
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Re: Good and Evil/Yin and Yang.

Post by snt »

In my opinion, the solution lies in the consideration that there is just good and that good can unite people. Religions have attempted it and modern society can perhaps philosophize it into a more functional form.

For example, I noticed that in China, when people were motivated to support a war, they were convinced by a belief in the idea of good.

What is good? Morality starts with the quest and when it is considered by logic - which many profound philosophers have done - that good must precede human nature, it is possible to overcome the hurdle of subjective laziness and drive people principally to consider the good of others and beyond.

Further, sound moral culture would enable any person to find a foundation for a meaningful life in virtue, which according to many philosophers is the highest human good, by which they will achieve an optimal condition for a path to sincere happiness and health in life, which benefits humanity.

A simple act of kindness towards another person is sufficient to initiate a foundation for a meaningful life. The initiation can be done by any person in any condition and it can have profound - life changing - effects on the lives of others.

From my perspective, what is required is a factor to spur urgency to enhance the potential for moral consideration. Ignorance of morality has caused grave and fatal problems, besides grave suffering.

Only when the potential for moral consideration is present, someone can be considered responsible in the face of his/her dignity.

When humanity is to secure its future and to achieve an optimal path, it would be case that humanity is set to enhance its moral consideration potential with everlasting urgency to be certain that whatever path it has chosen, has been given the right chance to have been the right path.

The problem at hand is not an answer to morality, but an answer to the potential required for moral consideration. (what is required to create a moral culture)

The trend in leadership today is a focus on authenticity and a moral compass. The number one business book of recent years, by an author that is considered the new father of leadership, is named 'True North' and is about a moral compass.

I recently listened to a podcast with as guest Lisa Monaco, a former Counterterrorism Advisor of President Barack Obama. She specifically addresses the significance of a sound moral compass and hints that it might involve more than social and cultural instincts (in the podcast she mentioned a 'sixth sense').

Podcast: https://listennotes.com/podcasts/the-le ... li-5dvNUT/

It is interesting to notice that people who manage other people often seem to hold a special interest in morality. When one is to make choices on behalf of other people as part of an organization, morality is essentially what will determine quality in the choices that are made.

From this perspective, despite that the modern technological society intends to break free from morality (i.e. the idea "A God is dead world in which science tells us our moral intuitions are simply a happenstance of evolutionary utility" that a user on this forum mentioned recently), there seems to be a solid ground and opportunity for morality to revive in the near future.

My suggestion would be to help secure interest for morality in a more robust sense beyond the scope of human ego. It wouldn't be just intended to be kind to other conscious beings, morality can be seen as a form of long-term intelligence that could help stave off disaster and secure progress in ways that could prove to be vital.

When a moral culture is set in motion, like a domino effect, it will prevent evil fundamentally.
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