Here is a real-life example of good vs. evil. Which side of this issues is good and which is evil? Perhaps you disagree with some of the "facts" presented? What evidence do you accept? What colors your attitude and view point? How do you feel about the various people and groups involved in the conflict? Can feelings be good or evil? Do feelings give rise to actions? Or, perhaps, do actions give rise to feelings?
http://www.truthrevolt.org/videos/bill-whittle-case-Israel
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Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Good vs. Evil
This is an opinion and a declaration of my personal view. Anyone may submit a reply with a contrary view and I may choose to respond or not, as I feel the need. If the reply conveys a hateful attitude by the use of abusive language, of any sort, I will delete the reply. So, if you want your view to be published on my blog, you need to mind your manners.
My first post has to do with language and the definitions of two words that get abused and misused. These words appear frequently in philosophical and metaphysical conversations. Since I propose such a conversation with you, my reader, I propose to define various words from time to time. If you find it difficult or impossible to accept my definitions and use them, as discussion proceeds, I suggest you go somewhere else on the web. Don't waste your time here.
Words are for communication. Communication involves a transmitter, a receiver, a medium of communication, a language and the message. A breakdown in any of the first four elements results in a distortion of the message. This is the basic reason why definition is required. The transmitter and receiver require a common language and medium for the message to be transmitted correctly and with meaning.
The two words I want to define are in the title of this post. How does one know what is good and what is evil? It is too easy be distracted and not ever answer this question. I want to address one of the distractions after I set up a working definition of these two words. So, here goes.
A thing or idea is good if it supports, enables or promotes life, growth, happiness and production.
A thing or idea is evil if it inhibits, detracts from or minimizes life, growth, happiness or production.
Can an idea or thing be both good and evil? My definition allows for general use and specific use. This means that an idea or thing can be both, depending on the specific use of the word in one or other application. Let's go to an illustration that allows me to use these two words in a meaningful context.
A child is growing up and is given milk. Milk is good. Food is good. Eating dirt is bad. Playing with fire is evil. Playing with snakes is evil. The parent feeds the child bread made with wheat. There are no problems. Wheat bread is good. The child gets sick and it is discovered that the child has a negative reaction to gluten. Now, wheat bread is bad for the child. Gluten is evil.
Is there a point to this? Absolutely, yes! Good and evil are simple words that are universally understood, but some people choose to fight the obvious universal meaning and claim they don't mean what they mean. There is an essential logical and rational problem when this is not faced as a foundational truth. I can explain and elaborate on this essential disconnect, but I want to take a little different tack. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_into_the_wind)
Is it necessary to introduce God into every conversation that tries to discuss this question? I hope that you can see from my post so far that this is a distraction. It is my opinion that some people are so attached to something evil or destructive in their lives, that they are desperately casting about for some way to rationalize their behavior. They try to convince themselves that the evil in their lives is not evil. They seem to be reasoning like this: 1. The only reason this behavior is evil is because God condemns it. 2. There is no God. 3. Therefore, my behavior is not evil. 4. The behavior makes me happy. 5. Therefore, my behavior is good.
You can decide what negative behavior is being rationalized. The Bible in Basic English interprets Isaiah 5:20 to say, "Cursed are those who give the name of good to evil, and of evil to what is good." The King James Version says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil."
My hope is that you will have mental clarity and the fine ability to distinguish between good and evil. I believe that this ability and skill is a good thing. In fact, I believe it comes from God. Whether you believe in God or not, I hope you accept that it is a good thing, something to be desired and encouraged in your thoughts and actions. I encourage you to think about this and make it your decision to seek good and avoid evil.
My first post has to do with language and the definitions of two words that get abused and misused. These words appear frequently in philosophical and metaphysical conversations. Since I propose such a conversation with you, my reader, I propose to define various words from time to time. If you find it difficult or impossible to accept my definitions and use them, as discussion proceeds, I suggest you go somewhere else on the web. Don't waste your time here.
Words are for communication. Communication involves a transmitter, a receiver, a medium of communication, a language and the message. A breakdown in any of the first four elements results in a distortion of the message. This is the basic reason why definition is required. The transmitter and receiver require a common language and medium for the message to be transmitted correctly and with meaning.
The two words I want to define are in the title of this post. How does one know what is good and what is evil? It is too easy be distracted and not ever answer this question. I want to address one of the distractions after I set up a working definition of these two words. So, here goes.
A thing or idea is good if it supports, enables or promotes life, growth, happiness and production.
A thing or idea is evil if it inhibits, detracts from or minimizes life, growth, happiness or production.
Can an idea or thing be both good and evil? My definition allows for general use and specific use. This means that an idea or thing can be both, depending on the specific use of the word in one or other application. Let's go to an illustration that allows me to use these two words in a meaningful context.
A child is growing up and is given milk. Milk is good. Food is good. Eating dirt is bad. Playing with fire is evil. Playing with snakes is evil. The parent feeds the child bread made with wheat. There are no problems. Wheat bread is good. The child gets sick and it is discovered that the child has a negative reaction to gluten. Now, wheat bread is bad for the child. Gluten is evil.
Is there a point to this? Absolutely, yes! Good and evil are simple words that are universally understood, but some people choose to fight the obvious universal meaning and claim they don't mean what they mean. There is an essential logical and rational problem when this is not faced as a foundational truth. I can explain and elaborate on this essential disconnect, but I want to take a little different tack. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_into_the_wind)
Is it necessary to introduce God into every conversation that tries to discuss this question? I hope that you can see from my post so far that this is a distraction. It is my opinion that some people are so attached to something evil or destructive in their lives, that they are desperately casting about for some way to rationalize their behavior. They try to convince themselves that the evil in their lives is not evil. They seem to be reasoning like this: 1. The only reason this behavior is evil is because God condemns it. 2. There is no God. 3. Therefore, my behavior is not evil. 4. The behavior makes me happy. 5. Therefore, my behavior is good.
You can decide what negative behavior is being rationalized. The Bible in Basic English interprets Isaiah 5:20 to say, "Cursed are those who give the name of good to evil, and of evil to what is good." The King James Version says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil."
My hope is that you will have mental clarity and the fine ability to distinguish between good and evil. I believe that this ability and skill is a good thing. In fact, I believe it comes from God. Whether you believe in God or not, I hope you accept that it is a good thing, something to be desired and encouraged in your thoughts and actions. I encourage you to think about this and make it your decision to seek good and avoid evil.
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