Concepts of Evil Flashcards
- The human mind _________ evil - we suspect that it is the core of our true selves.
Romances
- Can we know evil systematically or scientifically?
No.
- Is evil created by a thing?
No, it is the absent of good, like darkness is the absent of light.
- Evil is part of our “human nature”. What did Lorenz say about humans killing ones own?
Humans have an evolutionary history of being prey rather than predator, so we often fall into the act of killing our own because haven’t evolved the inhibitions of other predatory animals.
What did Sigmund Freud say about human evil?
Humanity possesses a death instinct. We are naturally aggressive and competitive. Because our urges are suppressed by morality of times, we can suffer from neurosis and have accidents from repressed aggression.
- What does “evil is anyone outside of the tribe” refer to?
Evil works by dehumanizing the Other. Identifying others as evil justifies all further evil against them.
What arguments does Aquinas use to argue against the existence of God?
- If God exists, he is omnipotent, omniscient, and morally perfect.
- If God is omnipotent, then God has the power to eliminate all evil.
- If God is omniscient, then God knows where evil exists.
- If God is morally perfect, then God has the desire to eliminate all evil.
- Evil exists.
- Therefore, God doesn’t exist.
An argument for evil’s existence related to our mental capabilities?
We will never know why evil exists because it is beyond our ability to comprehend evil’s true purpose.
An argument for evil’s existence related to free will?
If God eliminated all evil, we would have no free will and a world inferior to the one we now inhabit. This only explains human evil - not natural events, and why weak and innocent are often victims
How can evil exist in a world without a devine being?
The argument of theodicy
evil serves a purpose for humanity. If all our experiences were pleasant, we would never grow as individuals.
