Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!decvax!ittvax!wex From: wex@ittvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.philosophy,net.religion Subject: Re: what IS evil Message-ID: <809@ittvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 23-Jun-83 16:50:46 EDT Article-I.D.: ittvax.809 Posted: Thu Jun 23 16:50:46 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 24-Jun-83 15:51:50 EDT References: unc.5415 Lines: 19 Tim makes an interesting point on the nature of good and evil. I would like to take a slightly different tack, however. Copping straight from the notebooks of Lazarus Long (Heinlein), I will maintain that it is EVIL, and not merely undesirable, to hurt someone unnecessarily. Of course, necessary is in itself debatable, but I think I can cite examples of instances where an act is NEVER necessary. The first example that comes to mind is rape. Emotional issues aside, I cannot image a circumstance where rape is necessary. Or, alternately, giving harmful drugs to someone who does not need them. Again, the act itself never is necessary. Therefore, I would like to define it as evil. Comments? --Alan Wexelblat ittvax!wex or decvax!ucbvax!ittvax!wex@BERKELEY