interesting discussion
Sep. 17th, 2004 11:10 amfrom a discussion of Angel here:
I'm not sure that I think that it's everyone's nature to be good. I think that it's in everyone's nature to fulfill their own desires. And that some, many, people are conditioned at an early age to find happiness in fulfilling the needs (or desires) of others.
I think for some people that conditioning is reinforced by social means (a failure to follow the imperative towards considering the needs of others will result in social isolation), or by the image of a vengeful god (god will hurt you if you're not good to other people) or a god who leads by example (god helps people, so how can we do any less?), by programming of the self (if you don't help others, you will be a bad person), or simply by self-interest (if people always help those in need, then everyone in need--including someday probably you--will get help when they need it). Obviously the motivations that depend on a complusive deity are the most effective, if you can convince people to believe in the deity; I may be able to convince myself I don't care what other people think of me or socila or self-programming are just imposed on me from the outside and don't have any real moral force, but if there really is a god then its desires are presumably irresistable.
See, I think it's people's nature to be good, and from there it's a long slide down toward evil. You can stop it at any point by simply taking action. Something has to start that downward slide, though...
I'm not sure that I think that it's everyone's nature to be good. I think that it's in everyone's nature to fulfill their own desires. And that some, many, people are conditioned at an early age to find happiness in fulfilling the needs (or desires) of others.
I think for some people that conditioning is reinforced by social means (a failure to follow the imperative towards considering the needs of others will result in social isolation), or by the image of a vengeful god (god will hurt you if you're not good to other people) or a god who leads by example (god helps people, so how can we do any less?), by programming of the self (if you don't help others, you will be a bad person), or simply by self-interest (if people always help those in need, then everyone in need--including someday probably you--will get help when they need it). Obviously the motivations that depend on a complusive deity are the most effective, if you can convince people to believe in the deity; I may be able to convince myself I don't care what other people think of me or socila or self-programming are just imposed on me from the outside and don't have any real moral force, but if there really is a god then its desires are presumably irresistable.