Is there anything worse than evil?

Discuss morality and ethics in this message board.
Featured Article: Philosophical Analysis of Abortion, The Right to Life, and Murder
Tingle mind
Posts: 29
Joined: May 24th, 2010, 10:43 pm

Is there anything worse than evil?

Post by Tingle mind »

Is there a greater outside boundary that evil is filed in?
Could there be anything worse than evil? If so, what is it? Wouldn't it as well be considered evil?
User avatar
Keith Russell
Posts: 897
Joined: January 6th, 2010, 10:50 pm

Post by Keith Russell »

"Evil" is just a word used to describe an object or event that human beings have judged "harmful", "dangerous", or "extremely undesirable".

Worse than "evil" would be "extremely evil", etc.
User avatar
Interventizio
Posts: 32
Joined: April 15th, 2010, 12:40 pm
Contact:

Anything worse than evil?

Post by Interventizio »

I would say: indifference is worse than evil.
User avatar
pjkeeley
Posts: 695
Joined: April 10th, 2007, 8:41 am

Post by pjkeeley »

(Perhaps) mediocrity.
User avatar
Interventizio
Posts: 32
Joined: April 15th, 2010, 12:40 pm
Contact:

Post by Interventizio »

Indifference is a condition for evil to spread and reproduce.
Dewey
Premium Member
Posts: 830
Joined: October 28th, 2007, 1:45 pm
Location: California

Post by Dewey »

As Keith says, if you want to intensify “evil”, you have to add a modifier, such as “extremely”.

You can “file” “evil” in a greater boundary, that is, include it as part of a broader noun, such as “harm”. But then you are talking about more than just evil.
Shane Hanley
Posts: 32
Joined: August 13th, 2010, 8:57 pm

What's worse than evil

Post by Shane Hanley »

Some of us who commit, and hang our heads in shame; while other gloat and boast about theirs - as if it was an act of heroism. Some of us become repentant while others become celebratory.

Some of us make amends for our evil while some mock.

Some witnesses of evil condemn evil while others endorse it.

Thus, my answer would be that" glorifying or condoning evil "surpasses evil."

Finally, Inciting More Evil to an Evil Situation is Worst the Committed Evil
User avatar
Demystified
Posts: 63
Joined: August 29th, 2010, 9:16 pm
Location: Wisconsin, United States

Post by Demystified »

Is there anything worse than evil? First off, what is evil?

Secondly fools that think of themselves as saints or innocent in the world all the while they try to conceal their venomous dispositions and apathy towards other people I think is somthing I find highly undesirable in people.
Keith says-

"Evil" is just a word used to describe an object or event that human beings have judged "harmful", "dangerous", or "extremely undesirable".

Worse than "evil" would be "extremely evil", etc.
Don't you find it interesting how archaic ritualistic words such as these with mythological metanarratives just keep finding themselves in these conversations where they seem that they can't die even after one eradicates religion?

The fact that fellow atheists I have met still believe in the very definitions of "good" and "evil" even without a god makes me want to laugh.
Abandon ye hope for none of it lives here.

“The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual crime.”

- Max Stirner


Image
Algol
Posts: 209
Joined: December 20th, 2009, 5:02 pm

Post by Algol »

Demystified wrote:Don't you find it interesting how archaic ritualistic words such as these with mythological metanarratives just keep finding themselves in these conversations where they seem that they can't die even after one eradicates religion?
Which word is the 'mythological metanarrative'? Evil? What "archaic ritual" does it belong to?
Demystified wrote:The fact that fellow atheists I have met still believe in the very definitions of "good" and "evil" even without a god makes me want to laugh.
Is there no such thing as good and/or evil if there is no God? You can be an 'evil' unto yourself by intentionally inflicting self harm. Evil exist for atheist; it's just on a more personal level.
Tingle mind wrote:Could there be anything worse than evil?
If evil could be personified, like in Christianity with Satan, then the definition of evil is surpassed or at least taken to its furthest limit.
Satan is said to be the "Father of Lies" and the "Prince of Darkness". He gave birth to and rules over his creation; evil.
Shane Hanley
Posts: 32
Joined: August 13th, 2010, 8:57 pm

Post by Shane Hanley »

Demystified wrote:

"The fact that fellow atheists I have met still believe in the very definitions of "good" and "evil" even without a god makes me want to laugh."

The concept of good or evil pertains (even without the acknowledgment of God) to civility. Once the element of coexistence is involved, then behavioural parameter must be defined. A person living in their own "world" is not subjected to the rules of mankind.
User avatar
Demystified
Posts: 63
Joined: August 29th, 2010, 9:16 pm
Location: Wisconsin, United States

Post by Demystified »

Shane Hanley wrote:Demystified wrote:

"The fact that fellow atheists I have met still believe in the very definitions of "good" and "evil" even without a god makes me want to laugh."

The concept of good or evil pertains (even without the acknowledgment of God) to civility. Once the element of coexistence is involved, then behavioural parameter must be defined. A person living in their own "world" is not subjected to the rules of mankind.
The concept of good or evil pertains (even without the acknowledgment of God) to civility. Once the element of coexistence is involved, then behavioural parameter must be defined. A person living in their own "world" is not subjected to the rules of mankind.
Most who use the word civility do not even know what the word means.

What is civility?
Once the element of coexistence is involved,
There is no such thing as coexistence.

There is only competition, conflict, and struggle followed by hardship.
then behavioural parameter must be defined.


Defined as what?
A person living in their own "world" is not subjected to the rules of mankind.
What's that statement mean?
Algol- Which word is the 'mythological metanarrative'? Evil?
Yes the word evil. Good and evil the first historical dualities can be found originally in their first format of history in religious ritualistic depictions everywhere around the world over in that such religionisms is the origins not to mention the original construct of both terms.

The irony is how these words have survived transferring themselves into social philosophy from religion.
What "archaic ritual" does it belong to?


The ritual of demonstrating the illusion and story of a us and them mentality where quite the contrary both sides of the duality are consequences of each other.

The ritualistic metanarrative is of two sides that are eternal foes of each other but once more as said previosly both sides of each token are consequences of each other where both need each other to exist.

There is no two sides. There is no duality.

There is only a singular existence of two sides that are one of the same token.
Is there no such thing as good and/or evil if there is no God?
As a atheist I would make such a remark.
You can be an 'evil' unto yourself by intentionally inflicting self harm.
Evil to me doesn't exist. It's a myth constantly perpetuated in order to exact fear from a social dogma in order to achieve control and obedience.

It's a mythological story retold by those in authority of power in society to lull the masses asleep into docile complacency by threatening them into obedience by calling the disobedient this discription in order to segregate them as somthing other than when it concerns the general populance.

Once you oust a segment of the population under a hideous label is easily to describe them as being somthing other than human (subhuman) or somthing other than the general populance in order to be rid of them by damning ostracization.



Evil exist for atheist; it's just on a more personal level.


I'm a atheist and I don't believe in such.
Abandon ye hope for none of it lives here.

“The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual crime.”

- Max Stirner


Image
User avatar
stormy phillips
Posts: 302
Joined: November 9th, 2011, 5:30 pm
Location: N/I

Re: Is there anything worse than evil?

Post by stormy phillips »

The provisions it robs you off, if the intent is good, you have made a valuable connection, if the intention is evil, you sever a connection, it remains open only to the one who is of good intentions.
Men are not disturbed by things, but the view they take of things.....Epictetus
User avatar
Thinking critical
Posts: 1793
Joined: November 7th, 2011, 7:29 pm
Favorite Philosopher: A.C Grayling
Location: Perth, Australia (originally New Zealand)

Re: Is there anything worse than evil?

Post by Thinking critical »

Perhaps a slow, painful agonizing death could be considered worse than evil to the individual experiencing it. Watching your entire family die in a house fire could be considered worse than evil.

Although the events themselves maybe seen as evil, one must accept that depending on the circumstances there may be no evil intent involved. This would depend on how we define evil.
Do we have the right to call nature evil?
I believe in order to use the word evil there must be some form of conscious intent behind it.

Demystified said "The fact that fellow atheists I have met still believe in the very definitions of "good" and "evil" even without a god makes me want to laugh."

Please elaborate.
This cocky little cognitive contortionist will straighten you right out
User avatar
stormy phillips
Posts: 302
Joined: November 9th, 2011, 5:30 pm
Location: N/I

Re: Is there anything worse than evil?

Post by stormy phillips »

Good and evil are served by intent, "fate is character", and the circumstances that surround that character. Circumstances do not serve good or evil, but they can serve the character whose intentions are either. A fire can be lit intentionally to hurt someone, but it would be the intent that is evil and not the fire, the circumstances in which people were hurt, would remain loss. If there is wilful intent, it remains either good or evil.

-- Updated December 6th, 2011, 9:11 pm to add the following --

The reason I do not see suffering worse than evil, is that evil seeks it. Therefore if one has to suffer, better not to suffer evil....I guess.
Men are not disturbed by things, but the view they take of things.....Epictetus
Jellymeat
Posts: 63
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 6:18 am

Re: Is there anything worse than evil?

Post by Jellymeat »

Is there anything worse than evil?
Maybe in a figurative or literary sense, but in the formal sense, evil is the complete absence of good. It is not possible to have less than the complete absence of something.

Your question is like asking if there is anything darker than darkness itself, if darkness is the complete absence of light.
Post Reply

Return to “Ethics and Morality”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021