I don't think you can say femail praying mantii (plural for mantis?) or black windows who kill their mates after mating can be considered evil b/c they are doing what their instincts tell them to do and they all do it. However reading about chimps that gang up to beat or kill another chimp or animals who kill for pleasure could be evil. I read somewhere that there are actually very few animals who kill for pleasure....i should find that story.
It's not evil if the creature doesn't understand the consequences (and ignoring them) for an action. Some animals that kill to reduce competition for food or other resources, or offspring of other males do see consequences, but probably only for themselves. There's one species of monkey thats been observed practicing decption to get something. This requires them to empathize with their target, so obviously they understand the effect of their actions on others in their society.
So that means that throwing cats ... okay, dogs off the roof of a ten-story building isn't inherently Evil because I don't believe in Hell and the Great Satan who will Devour My Everlasting Soul?
yu0 = teh dumbx0r
- M4H
BTW, if you want to see Evil in nature, look no further than a wasp or yellow-jacket. Those things are sadistic bastards that will sting you for fun.
- M4H
- M4H
BoberFett
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 37,562
- 9
- 81
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHireSo that means that throwing cats ... okay, dogs off the roof of a ten-story building isn't inherently Evil because I don't believe in Hell and the Great Satan who will Devour My Everlasting Soul?
yu0 = teh dumbx0r
- M4H
So a star going supernova and destroying everything around it is evil?
You're going to say "But a star isn't sentient".
Fine, it's not. It's just a bunch of chemical reactions.
Just like you.
That's OK, think about it for awhile. I know it's a lot for your tiny little mind to handle, but you'll get it eventually. After all, you're an atheist. You're superior to everyone.
Originally posted by: BoberFett
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
So that means that throwing cats ... okay, dogs off the roof of a ten-story building isn't inherently Evil because I don't believe in Hell and the Great Satan who will Devour My Everlasting Soul?
yu0 = teh dumbx0r
- M4H
So a star going supernova and destroying everything around it is evil?
A star is an inanimate object, not a living organism.
Try again.
- M4H
Since I'm an atheist, everything is automatically a gray area for me? Wow, that makes me feel so much better about selling crack to little kids and pimping my mother.
Does fuel vapour choose to combust when a spark is added? No.
Do I choose to reply to your post? Yes.
See the difference yet?
And by the way, I'm not an atheist. If you must categorize, I'm a "nontheist".
- M4H
HomeBrewerDude
Lifer
- Jan 18, 2001
- 14,465
- 1
- 0
You've obviously never owned a cat before. Cause my cat's have done plenty of evil things in their lifetimes.
NO. Cats are possible of doing great evil, too.
ESPECIALLY my ex-roommate's cat.
One time I was sitting on my new wooden couch watching TV in the living room when the cat sauntered downstairs, casually walked by me, and then arched its back and proceeded to scratch the HELL out of one of the legs of my couch.
It stared at me the entire time it was doing it... scratching SLOWLY... as I sat there, dumbfounded.
When I finally came to my senses and stood up to scream/shout at it, the door opened and my roommate came home. The cat ran over to her and started purring affectionately, rubbing against her legs... and my roommate was like, "My, you're affectionate today!"
I swear the cat looked back at me and smirked.
ESPECIALLY my ex-roommate's cat.
One time I was sitting on my new wooden couch watching TV in the living room when the cat sauntered downstairs, casually walked by me, and then arched its back and proceeded to scratch the HELL out of one of the legs of my couch.
It stared at me the entire time it was doing it... scratching SLOWLY... as I sat there, dumbfounded.
When I finally came to my senses and stood up to scream/shout at it, the door opened and my roommate came home. The cat ran over to her and started purring affectionately, rubbing against her legs... and my roommate was like, "My, you're affectionate today!"
I swear the cat looked back at me and smirked.
You've obviously never owned a cat before. Cause my cat's have done plenty of evil things in their lifetimes.
UglyCasanova
Lifer
- Mar 25, 2001
- 19,275
- 1,361
- 126
BoberFett
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 37,562
- 9
- 81
Originally posted by: Encryptic
Since I'm an atheist, everything is automatically a gray area for me? Wow, that makes me feel so much better about selling crack to little kids and pimping my mother.
The only reason you feel bad about selling crack to kids is because that's what the chemical reactions in your brain make you feel. Perhaps to some people, selling crack to kids makes them feel good. Are they evil?
Have you ever read the book?
He wasn't evil, he was missunderstood!
Actually in the book you end up feeling sorry for him. He has rabies and can't understand what's happening to him.
Gee, you really snuck that zinger up on me. Snuck up like an old lady full of refried beans - noisy, foul, and detectable from a mile and a half off.
Since when does having a "soul" or "etheral force" equal religious belief?
If it is purely chemical reactions, then wouldn't you be able to predict everything that will ever happen based on scientific knowledge?
And if everything is predetermined, explain psychotic mass-murderers. No motive. No issues. No problems. Just decided to feed the neighbour into a wood chipper one day and have a beer.
- M4H
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
Yep.
Many animals are what I would call "sentient." To say that they only operate from instinct is total BS.
Cats, for example, have personality and intelligence, and have an understanding of good and evil (if somewhat limited when compared to humans).
Chimpanzees don't just kill the babies of rivals. They frequently wage what can only be called full-scale tribal warfare. Some experts say that more than half of all chimp males die from being murdered by another chimp male.
Ever had a dog that got mad at you for leaving him home alone.
My family had a dog that would get angry when left home for the family going on vacation.
We would have someone watch him. But sometimes the dog would get angry. And would chew something.
And the dog doesn't normally chew things. Sounds like revenge for me. And i believe revenge is
viewed as evil.
My family had a dog that would get angry when left home for the family going on vacation.
We would have someone watch him. But sometimes the dog would get angry. And would chew something.
And the dog doesn't normally chew things. Sounds like revenge for me. And i believe revenge is
viewed as evil.
BoberFett
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 37,562
- 9
- 81
Yes. If the universe is solely a physics equation, then everything is predictable.
Why would predetermination preclude mass murder? That doesn't make sense.
What's a non-theist? Something you made up so you can sit on the fence? Was the universe created or does it just exist? Is there a god or isn't there? There really isn't a gray area there. Either there's an all powerful being or there isn't.
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