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From: tim@unc.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.philosophy,net.religion
Subject: Re: what IS evil
Message-ID: <5415@unc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Jun-83 16:22:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.5415
Posted: Mon Jun 20 16:22:50 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jun-83 23:34:24 EDT
References: sbcs.390
Lines: 15


    As far as I can tell, "evil" is a word we use to describe
behaviors we consider undesirable, and nothing more.  There is
malevolence, but it need not always be undesirable (consider a soldier
fighting Nazis), and there is benevolence, but it need not always be
desirable (sheltering Hitler).

    Since abandoning monotheism, I have had no need for the concept
that good and evil are things in themselves.  Although I use the words
at times, they are only shorthand for desirable and undesirable.  I
prefer to think in terms of what we should or shouldn't do in any
particular situation, and I don't see that the ideas of good and evil
help.  Is this equivalent to your relativistic point of view, Saumya?

    Tim Maroney