Should we abolish evil?


Agent79

 

Posted

...if it were discovered to be genetic?


Some/many/all(?) psychological conditions have a chemical and possibly genetic origin, with others being a result of environmental conditions. This ranges from destructive urges such as suicidal depression to social variance such as sexuality.

It can be extrapolated then, that sociopathy (defined here as an emotional disdain for society that renders one incapable of feeling like they "ought to" obey the rules) and psychopathy (defined here as an inability to comprehend society in a way that allows one to comprehend what the rules actually are) may be the result of genetic flaws in an individual. Almost literally, "brain wired differently".

If a retrovirus were developed that could isolate and remove these genetic disorders, and repair them if they developed from environmental conditions, should it be used?

For this discussion, let's ignore tangents such as the possibility of nightmare runaway mutations and the like, and concentrate on the main issues:

- Every human develops a conscience that they cannot simply ignore: they can only overcome it with will/logic. You can ignore the needs of society, but your reason will never be "I felt like it".

- Potentially 'benevolent' social/mental disorders are also abolished, such as autistic savants, or some cases of ADD or ADHD (so no mad scientists consumed by a single theory, etc)

- Morality and Ethics are entirely determined over time by the needs of society and community. It is almost impossible to avoid wanting to pitch in and help make things better. What 'better' means is determined, recursively, by society itself.


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Posted

My initial reaction?

The act of removing the "free will" from someone is just as evil.


@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff

 

Posted

Are we talking strictly ethical here? How ethical is it to force entire generations to undergo medical procedures without consent?


 

Posted

Some of the worst evils in history have been committed by people who honestly thought they were doing the right thing.

Just sayin.




-k


I see myself as witty, urbane, highly talented, hugely successful with a keen sense of style. Plus of course my own special brand of modesty.

Virtue: Automatic Lenin | The Pink Guy | Superpowered | Guardia | Guardia Prime | Ultrapowered

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by MentalMaden View Post
My initial reaction?

The act of removing the "free will" from someone is just as evil.
It's not removing free will. It's removing a propensity to do bad things. People could still do evil, but they would be doing so in a... more "rational" way?


Agua Man lvl 48 Water/Electric Blaster


"To die hating NCSoft for shutting down City of Heroes, that was Freedom."

 

Posted

And how would this affect your average anti-social person? If you wanted to give me a shot that made me want to hang out with people and go bar hopping then be prepared to fight me.


 

Posted

"Existence offers us nothing if not the opportunity for an endless series of betrayals. There's a world behind the world. Lie once, cheat twice and everything becomes clear. Do not mistake my deception for a character flaw. It is a philosophical choice, a profound understanding of the universe. It is a way of life. I am a monster, yes."



-k


I see myself as witty, urbane, highly talented, hugely successful with a keen sense of style. Plus of course my own special brand of modesty.

Virtue: Automatic Lenin | The Pink Guy | Superpowered | Guardia | Guardia Prime | Ultrapowered

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by MentalMaden View Post
My initial reaction?

The act of removing the "free will" from someone is just as evil.
From the point of view of a hypothetical scientist, removing sociopathy from a person is not removing free will, it is enabling it.

By (my own enclosed) definition, a person suffering from sociopathy is unable to care about society; it is not their choice.

A person is left with the ability to disdain society, but only from logical, conscious, rational intent.


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Posted

I don't see how what you are describing is in any way abolishing evil?


Always remember, we were Heroes.

 

Posted

I don't believe humans have the wisdom to define good or evil on their own, personal prejudices and leniencies will always get mixed up. I also don't believe that we are merely the sum of out genetics, although genetics obviously does play a role, I do believe humans have free will.

So, with those two things in mind, no, no I do not think people should be altered at the genetic level to remove "evil".


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mental_Giant View Post
It's not removing free will. It's removing a propensity to do bad things. People could still do evil, but they would be doing so in a... more "rational" way?
It was in quotes for a reason, Other Mental. Is it really free will based on the outline of the OP? Not really. But you are still stopping someone from making a conscious decision about their actions, and there is the beginning of the problem. What's the next behavior we want to get rid of?


@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff

 

Posted

However, if there was a shot to cure emo then I'm all for it.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frostbiter View Post
And how would this affect your average anti-social person? If you wanted to give me a shot that made me want to hang out with people and go bar hopping then be prepared to fight me.
The shot doesn't force you to do anything. If you have logical, rational reasons for avoiding people (you are in the witness protection programme, you have a communicable disease, you have to be at work early the next day) those reasons are still in place, and you can act on them as per normal.

On the other hand, if your reasons are chemically/genetically derived, you will no longer feel the same way.

If someone invites you bar hopping, you won't "not want to go" by default. If you don't have a reason to stay home that you can't articulate (even something as simple as 'playing CoH is more fun than bar hopping'), you probably will want to go.


Story Arcs I created:

Every Rose: (#17702) Villainous vs Legacy Chain. Forget Arachnos, join the CoT!

Cosplay Madness!: (#3643) Neutral vs Custom Foes. Heroes at a pop culture convention!

Kiss Hello Goodbye: (#156389) Heroic vs Custom Foes. Film Noir/Hardboiled detective adventure!

 

Posted

This seems more to be saying "If we could treat existing mental illnesses, should we treat them?"

Which we already do (With varying success). So I guess the answer is yes? It's not really much of a question.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr_Darkspeed View Post
I don't see how what you are describing is in any way abolishing evil?
Current society tends to redefine what would have been considered 'evil' in a previous century as 'sociopathy' or 'psychopathy'.

Hannibal the Cannibal and Michael Myers (either one) aren't 'evil', they are 'sociopaths'.

The implication being that if they had normal brain wiring, they would be incapable of eating people, chasing their sisters with knives, or making The Love Guru.

Or at least that if they did such things it would be for understandable reasons.


Story Arcs I created:

Every Rose: (#17702) Villainous vs Legacy Chain. Forget Arachnos, join the CoT!

Cosplay Madness!: (#3643) Neutral vs Custom Foes. Heroes at a pop culture convention!

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Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fanservice View Post
It's not really much of a question.
We'll see.


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Every Rose: (#17702) Villainous vs Legacy Chain. Forget Arachnos, join the CoT!

Cosplay Madness!: (#3643) Neutral vs Custom Foes. Heroes at a pop culture convention!

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Posted

There are definitely a few actions that are almost universally agreed upon as being "evil," but ultimately that distinction is subjective, defined by individual persons and cultures. That said, I think that genetics, biology and chemistry can only take so much credit/blame for how a person behaves. You also have to factor in things like environment, upbringing and so forth. And, of course, free will. Ultimately, we all make a choice on whether or not to act on whatever impulses spring forth in us. Certain factors may predispose us toward one action or another in a given situation, but they're not the only (or even the biggest) element.


There is an art, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. --The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fanservice View Post
This seems more to be saying "If we could treat existing mental illnesses, should we treat them?"

Which we already do (With varying success). So I guess the answer is yes? It's not really much of a question.
Pretty much this.

And there's plenty of "evil" done by non-sociopaths too. Some by elected officials.



I imagine the question we need to ask before asking if we should abolish Evil, is "What is Evil?"



-k


I see myself as witty, urbane, highly talented, hugely successful with a keen sense of style. Plus of course my own special brand of modesty.

Virtue: Automatic Lenin | The Pink Guy | Superpowered | Guardia | Guardia Prime | Ultrapowered

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails View Post
The shot doesn't force you to do anything. If you have logical, rational reasons for avoiding people (you are in the witness protection programme, you have a communicable disease, you have to be at work early the next day) those reasons are still in place, and you can act on them as per normal.

On the other hand, if your reasons are chemically/genetically derived, you will no longer feel the same way.

If someone invites you bar hopping, you won't "not want to go" by default. If you don't have a reason to stay home that you can't articulate (even something as simple as 'playing CoH is more fun than bar hopping'), you probably will want to go.
And that is altering someone's lifestyle for no other reason than that you don't think it is socially proper.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails View Post
Current society tends to redefine what would have been considered 'evil' in a previous century as 'sociopathy' or 'psychopathy'.
Which society? and only with specific isntances (like the serial killers example). In regards to other evil things, such as robbery, fraud, murder for profit, slavery, racism, war, line dancing etc..., its certainly not the general societal view that everyone invloved in such practises are socio/psychopaths.

Also, wasn't this an episode of Voyager?


Always remember, we were Heroes.

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails View Post
...if it were discovered to be genetic?

Full disclosure: as a Christian, I don't beleive evil is genetic or that human agency can abolish it without divine intervention; this is purely a "what if scenario" that should be divorced from spirituality.

Some/many/all(?) psychological conditions have a chemical and possibly genetic origin, with others being a result of environmental conditions. This ranges from destructive urges such as suicidal depression to social variance such as sexuality.

It can be extrapolated then, that sociopathy (defined here as an emotional disdain for society that renders one incapable of feeling like they "ought to" obey the rules) and psychopathy (defined here as an inability to comprehend society in a way that allows one to comprehend what the rules actually are) may be the result of genetic flaws in an individual. Almost literally, "brain wired differently".

If a retrovirus were developed that could isolate and remove these genetic disorders, and repair them if they developed from environmental conditions, should it be used?

For this discussion, let's ignore tangents such as the possibility of nightmare runaway mutations and the like, and concentrate on the main issues:

- Every human develops a conscience that they cannot simply ignore: they can only overcome it with will/logic. You can ignore the needs of society, but your reason will never be "I felt like it".

- Potentially 'benevolent' social/mental disorders are also abolished, such as autistic savants, or some cases of ADD or ADHD (so no mad scientists consumed by a single theory, etc)

- Morality and Ethics are entirely determined over time by the needs of society and community. It is almost impossible to avoid wanting to pitch in and help make things better. What 'better' means is determined, recursively, by society itself.
NO! If We destroy evil, stronger evil will come to fill void!

*twacks KitsuneNinetails* Oooonnee Mooore thing! Killing people because of Genetics is wrong!


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaPirate View Post
I imagine the question we need to ask before asking if we should abolish Evil, is "What is Evil?"
Sounds easy enough I'm sure that won't take too long to clear up.


 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazmatter View Post
There are definitely a few actions that are almost universally agreed upon as being "evil," but ultimately that distinction is subjective, defined by individual persons and cultures.
For example, ask a Mongolian in the 1200s if stealing, looting, and murder are "evil".




-np


I see myself as witty, urbane, highly talented, hugely successful with a keen sense of style. Plus of course my own special brand of modesty.

Virtue: Automatic Lenin | The Pink Guy | Superpowered | Guardia | Guardia Prime | Ultrapowered

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitsune9tails View Post
...if it were discovered to be genetic?

Some/many/all(?) psychological conditions have a chemical and possibly genetic origin, with others being a result of environmental conditions. This ranges from destructive urges such as suicidal depression to social variance such as sexuality.
Last I knew no sexual preference gene exists (nor intelligence gene or a violence gene) and practically given up on except by a few.

So that example just seems bad.

As for taking away all evil, didn't they try that in Gattaca, and those who had it taken a way still ended up killing someone (at least the one killer in the movie). Besides that, talk about taking away free will.

Not to mention, who would decide what exactly is evil? Is killing an animal to eat it evil? According to some it is!

As for what you say "I felt like it" there goes any sort of after hours night life. Not to mention some great marriages that likely started off with some less than noble intentions (on either side).

"We have 2.5 children because this is what is expected of us." *nod nod...go on mediorce way*.

In the end, I'd rather protect peoples rights to be jerks than to have it taken away.


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The BrandX Collection

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by NinjaPirate View Post
Ask a Mongolian in the 1200s if stealing, looting, and murder are "evil".
I tried to but he just kept going on about Twinkies. Something about them giving an excellent sugar rush.


Always remember, we were Heroes.