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Good? Evil? How can you know?
by Groff Schroederr
| Probably most everyone sees him self as moral - seeking, supporting and/or doing good. Perhaps a few want to do evil, but even then probably only on a small scale and for personal gain. While super villains who employ any means to their ends almost certainly exist, even those who claim to lead others to good sometimes achieve great evil. |
Some 2600 years ago, the Greek philosopher Pythagoras founded "ethics," the study of morality. Philosphically, we consider good as helping one or more people achieve benefit, such as possessions, health, wealth, power, etc. Since individual benefit often comes at others' loss, perhaps actions that provide immediate real benefit to the many (versus actions promising future benefit to only a few) might measure as more worthy of the label good. Similarly, the number hurt might quantify evilness. |
In the achievement of good or the visitation of evil, one can choose ethical methods such as reciprocity, negotiation, coalition building and compromise, or unethical methods such as deception, misrepresentation, fraud, assault and murder. Ethical methods are difficult, requiring hard work and personal sacrifice, while unethical methods are quick, easy, unexpected, effective, and when continuously managed, difficult to detect, prove and prosecute. |
Some believe unethical tactics can achieve good, and anyone can deceive themselves into believing they are achieving good - even as they do evil things. For example, once elected, a politician who systematically concealed a plan to establish "good" but unpopular policies quietly but forcefully implements them. The "good" policies become law (overruling the People) - thanks to the "evil" of deception. |
Since many people choose to deceive over the minutia of daily life ("little white lies" about the boss's hairstyle etc.), and access to even small amounts of money and power can corrupt, those pursuing morality must apply due diligence regarding possible deception in situations involving great wealth and power. |
How can you tell if someone is intentionally deceiving you for personal gain, or have themselves been deceived by others? These questions are especially cogent in time of war when, as history and science shows, virtually anyone can commit appalling crimes simply by "following orders." Access to information may make it easier to recognize immorality, but opposing it is often extremely difficult, especially when you have something to gain - or lose. |
The words god and good and evil and devil share common roots in many languages. If omnipotent good supernatural being(s) exist, they rarely appear to intervene to achieve or reward good, even when people commit horrific crimes or perform great works in their name. In contrast, there is no need for supernatural evil because unethical behavior appears irresistible to some, unethical approaches are effective, and sadly, desperate people do desperate things. |
If supernatural evil does exist, what greater victory could it achieve than deceiving those seeking to do good into believing that deception, fraud, murder or other unethical action somehow justifies their efforts to do good. |
No matter what our beliefs, every day each of us makes decisions with important moral ramifications, including accepting ethical or unethical means. Eighteenth century poet Edmund Burke wrote, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good [humans] do nothing." If history is any indicator, there is much more to moral decision-making than maximizing personal benefit or unquestioningly doing what we are told. |
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