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What if "Good" and "Evil" were in the reverse?

Penumbra

Veteran Member
Premium Member
What if, in the world we live in today, being "good" was not the "norm"? What if things were the other way around. What if, as a society people were imprisoned for doing "good"? What if doing "evil" was something to give praise for?

How would people's views differ and in what way would you imagine topics, such as are discussed in this forum, would be?

Just something to chew on.
It would be a nonsensical situation leading to the collapse of society. (In fact, not much of a society would be able to be constructed in the first place.)

Even among cultures that have been considered rather immoral by other cultures throughout history, they tend to still have some reasonable laws amidst their craziness, like don't steal, don't indiscriminately kill, and so forth. They do get some other things wrong, like limiting freedom, allowing sexism and abuse, or being excessively racist. They still provide themselves with a foundation to stand on, though, at least for a while.

If people were imprisoned for doing good, no legal system would even be able to stand, as it would be full of people who necessarily do bad things. Things like going to work, having a home, working together, and so forth, would be impossible.
 

gnomon

Well-Known Member
Since when is it not simplistic to label the world in ridiculously subjective black and white terms.
 

Danmac

Well-Known Member
Eh?

What democratic agenda?

What nonsense is this?

People that reject the idea of objective morality tend to change laws to fit their own agendas. Like the democratic party. People that believe in God attempt to change laws, not according to their own agendas, but according to God's.
 

Primordial Annihilator

Well-Known Member
People that reject the idea of objective morality tend to change laws to fit their own agendas. Like the democratic party. People that believe in God attempt to change laws, not according to their own agendas, but according to God's.

There is no objective morality Danmac...morality is a subjective human invention.

I know this because humans are one miserable species on one little backward planet...out of billions.

Plus of course I have no moral compass...in fact I am quite amoral by some standards and have no problem with that as long as I dont break the rules AND get caught.

There are only social contracts that are codified into law.

The democrats have every right to change laws for justifiable reasons...if new laws are needed or old ones to be removed...to better society.
 

gnomon

Well-Known Member
People that reject the idea of objective morality tend to change laws to fit their own agendas. Like the democratic party. People that believe in God attempt to change laws, not according to their own agendas, but according to God's.

Trust me, people that change the law to fit what they call God's law are also changing laws to fit their own agenda.

I wonder between the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland who holds the objective morality.
 

Danmac

Well-Known Member
There is no objective morality Danmac...morality is a subjective human invention.Are you saying there are no absolutes?

Plus of course I have no moral compass...in fact I am quite amoral by some standards and have no problem with that as long as I dont break the rules AND get caught.
Quite a selfish way to live don't you think?
The democrats have every right to change laws for justifiable reasons...if new laws are needed or old ones to be removed...to better society.
Don't they know it.
 

Danmac

Well-Known Member
Trust me, people that change the law to fit what they call God's law are also changing laws to fit their own agenda.

I wonder between the Catholics and the Protestants in Northern Ireland who holds the objective morality.

To live by the golden rule of Christianity is to live by what is best for civilization as a whole. Sometimes that requires self denial. So the agenda is to do what is best to further mankind, and not my own agenda.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
To live by the golden rule of Christianity is to live by what is best for civilization as a whole. Sometimes that requires self denial. So the agenda is to do what is best to further mankind, and not my own agenda.
Could you summarize the golden rule?
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
What if, in the world we live in today, being "good" was not the "norm"? What if things were the other way around. What if, as a society people were imprisoned for doing "good"? What if doing "evil" was something to give praise for?

How would people's views differ and in what way would you imagine topics, such as are discussed in this forum, would be?

Just something to chew on.

There would be a change in subjectivity based on appeal. Given such a scenario, the appeal of evil would in fact become a notion of good. Ironic.
 

mohammed_beiruti

Active Member
What if, in the world we live in today, being "good" was not the "norm"? What if things were the other way around. What if, as a society people were imprisoned for doing "good"? What if doing "evil" was something to give praise for?

How would people's views differ and in what way would you imagine topics, such as are discussed in this forum, would be?

Just something to chew on.

do you like for your brother(in humanity) what you like for youeself?

for example , do you like pain ?
 
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Thesavorofpan

Is not going to save you.
What if, in the world we live in today, being "good" was not the "norm"? What if things were the other way around. What if, as a society people were imprisoned for doing "good"? What if doing "evil" was something to give praise for?

How would people's views differ and in what way would you imagine topics, such as are discussed in this forum, would be?

Just something to chew on.

There would be no society. It would be chaos. survival of the fitest. Just read The Road if you need an example.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Put the needs of others ahead of your own. All others.
I was curious, since I've seen several "golden rules". I favor the reciprocity oriented versions.
It's funny how people of no religion & of different religions often arrive at it. But I'm surprised
by how many people & religions reject it. So much for its being absolute, eh?
 
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Primordial Annihilator

Well-Known Member
I was curious, since I've seen several "golden rules". I favor the reciprocity oriented versions.
It's funny how people of no religion & of different religions often arrive at it. But I'm surprised
by how many people & religions reject it. So much for its being absolute, eh?

The Golden Rule is a workable ideal...but an ideal is all it is...one of many.

I prefer my vision of the Greater Good philosophy...which might be part of someones interpretation of the Golden Rule...:rolleyes:

In which your every act should be as holistic as possible...you dont litter...you dont steal...you dont lie...you dont act irresponsibly and selfishly...because all those irresponsible and selfish acts damage the whole.

The individual strives to do things for the Greater Good of everyone and everything.

This is not a rule, this is an ideal...that can only be reached by truly selfless people.
 

Danmac

Well-Known Member
I was curious, since I've seen several "golden rules". I favor the reciprocity oriented versions.
It's funny how people of no religion & of different religions often arrive at it. But I'm surprised
by how many people & religions reject it. So much for its being absolute, eh?

The bible teaches that God is love, His law is therefore love. The question is, what is love. The bible teaches that love causes no harm in any way shape or form to others. Love takes no thought for itself. Love is not selfish. Love is more concerned for the welfare of others than it is for itself. Love would sacrifice its own life for the life of its enemy.
 
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