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Is Evil Relative? Can we know objective truth about evil?
By maryann in The Culture of Life
July 29, 2008

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Man can know objective truth in science, in mathematics, and even history. If we can find objective truth with evidence in these fields, can mankind know the objective truth about evil?

This blog came about as a discussion between me and some other posters on the nature of evil. I believe that evil can be known, that evil exists in some actions and intents, and that any supposed relatively concerning evil is denying nature's laws.

To me, what makes something evil is when something takes away life unaturally, or at times when something is used against its purpose: for instance, medicine is used to heal, but when medicine is used to take away life, it no longer serves its purpose and becomes an evil action. These aren't the only points, but the major ones.

Others offer that no actions or set of beliefs are evil- it's all an opinion of the individual or the society. For instance, one poster proposes that rape is not evil, because some cultures viewed it as the status quo. Rape, along with its physical, mental, and emotional violations is not evil if one's opinion says so.

According to this line of thinking, there are no intrinsically (by nature) evil actions.

I see this as moral relativity run amock.

This system of thinking makes jibberish of the legal system, as one's opinion of evil could differ from one lawyer, judge, and criminal to the next.

What would nature and nature's laws give us to think about this? Nature is at its best when it is alive, and healthy.  Rape takes away from one's mental and emotional health, I say, even if your culture tries to say it's okay. Who are we trying to fool here? 

Ask a little girl if she liked being raped, even if her culture allows it. Ask girls in Africa if they liked having their genitals mutilated even when there culture says it's the thing to do. 

What about a dose of common sense and reality?

Rape can kill the one being raped (and the raper as well). Transmission of HIV can occur, or violent sex can kill, not to mention irate mothers, fathers, and siblings outraged at the "neutral" action.

Can societies evolve, so that what they once thought was okay- rape, slavery, they arrive at a heightened sense of morality or consciousness and change their laws to reflect their new conclusions? 

I think it's certainly true that societies regress, as the U.S. now okays abortion up to the moment of birth. This wasn't legal before 1972. Did human nature change?  IMO, just because something is a law, it doesn't mean it's a just law.

 I do want to say that these are my thoughts on the subject, and I have in no way studied this definitively, but I am about exploring ideas.