Over at counterbalance a discussion on evil caught my attention. Recently there has been a great deal of focus in the media on whether Iraq, Iran, and North Korea constitute an axis of evil. There has also been recent attention by Slobbodan Milosevic's claims that he is being demonized by the prosecutors and that this amounts to a public lynching.

My view is that if we are to communicate we must use words that have the kind of meaning that we wish to convey about someone or something. Some words have historic and religious implications (e.g., God), and those words generally have a wide application to many different meanings. I don't think we should (or can) avoid using such general terms given the fact that our language is not a formal system (like mathematics) and is in no way used so formally in any case.

Therefore, I conclude that 'evil' is applicable to individuals if what we mean someone who fits the meaning of how we use that term. The real question is how consistently are we capable of applying that word in regards to that meaning. I think it takes some effort, but it is possible to use the word evil so that things that we do not consider evil (e.g., animal behavior to kill or a war to defend one's national interests) is not applicable whereas it is still applicable to the things we have pointed out as being evil (e.g., terrorism, etc). Often, however, we turn a blind eye to our actions and this can unwittedly fool us into believing that we are not part of the very evil that we have called attention to in others (i.e., he who is not a sinner should cast the first stone).

Warm regards, Harv

• Relatively, sure - stormcrow - February 14, 2002 - 22:33 UTC
  • I don't think it's in our heads - harvey1 - February 15, 2002 - 16:07 UTC
    • It can't be defined - stormcrow - February 15, 2002 - 16:56 UTC
      • But, we can define the taste of onions - harvey1 - February 15, 2002 - 19:52 UTC
        • Okay, but... - stormcrow - February 15, 2002 - 21:25 UTC
          • Which is the relative part? - harvey1 - February 15, 2002 - 23:28 UTC
            • Not exactly sure what you're arguing for - stormcrow - February 16, 2002 - 05:42 UTC
              • It's been said for 100s of years; several here denied its truth - carefuluniverse - February 16, 2002 - 15:51 UTC
              • Hmm... - harvey1 - February 16, 2002 - 23:11 UTC
                • It's not that easy, there is no morality-meter - stormcrow - February 17, 2002 - 03:58 UTC
                  • Grist for the "morality meter" - carefuluniverse - February 17, 2002 - 14:44 UTC
                  • Abstract concepts - harvey1 - February 17, 2002 - 17:40 UTC
                    • Harv and Mario are not ignoring books; they're just so smart - carefuluniverse - February 18, 2002 - 02:11 UTC
                      • Not the case - harvey1 - February 18, 2002 - 05:26 UTC
                        • which part of the above ...is "not the case"? - carefuluniverse - February 18, 2002 - 07:04 UTC
                      • More about 'not the case' - harvey1 - February 18, 2002 - 15:06 UTC
                        • on a morning such as this...in fact, this very morning ! :) - carefuluniverse - February 18, 2002 - 17:06 UTC
                      • I like green - harvey1 - February 19, 2002 - 03:57 UTC
                        • just a lil bit more on tha' - carefuluniverse - February 19, 2002 - 06:21 UTC
                      • Standardizing is not without human effort - harvey1 - February 19, 2002 - 13:19 UTC
                        • yeah, now that you mention it... - carefuluniverse - February 19, 2002 - 15:21 UTC
                          • Repost...tho' one word being as good as any other - carefuluniverse - February 19, 2002 - 15:23 UTC
                      • Not sure what you mean - harvey1 - February 19, 2002 - 16:26 UTC
                        • Is Harv 'the stranger beside me' who concealeth his true ID? - quiet - February 19, 2002 - 19:18 UTC
                      • What in the world are you squawking about? - harvey1 - February 19, 2002 - 20:53 UTC
                        • I certainly deny your mushy propaganda that I attacked you - carefuluniverse - February 19, 2002 - 21:08 UTC
                      • Think what you want - harvey1 - February 19, 2002 - 21:51 UTC
                        • Harv the continual prevaricator -- no attack, just fact - carefuluniverse - February 19, 2002 - 22:51 UTC
                      • Yawn - harvey1 - February 19, 2002 - 23:21 UTC
                        • So...you like me; you really LIKE me ! - carefuluniverse - February 20, 2002 - 02:08 UTC
                      • Whatever you say, Sally Field (nt) - harvey1 - February 20, 2002 - 03:41 UTC
• Was Isaac Newton "evil?" - quiet - February 15, 2002 - 05:34 UTC
  • Define what you mean by 'evil' - harvey1 - February 15, 2002 - 16:02 UTC
    • I have a headcold just now. Are you teasing me? - something - February 16, 2002 - 01:03 UTC
      • Not teasing - harvey1 - February 16, 2002 - 23:18 UTC
        • you justify calling one another names...in the name of science? - carefuluniverse - February 17, 2002 - 02:26 UTC
          • Calling names is a secondary effect - harvey1 - February 17, 2002 - 17:50 UTC
• Listen to the Slobadon Milosevic arguments - harvey1 - February 15, 2002 - 16:12 UTC
  • Milosevic - eldowardo - February 17, 2002 - 11:06 UTC
    • What I find fascinating - harvey1 - February 17, 2002 - 17:58 UTC