Religious and Philosophical Views of Good and Evil

English 12BMrs. Malaspino

Philosophical Naturalism:Humans are purely natural

phenomena, sophisticated beings which have evolved into our present state.

Good and evil are mere labels placed on how well individual behavior conforms to societal expectations.

Western ReligionsInclude Christianity, Judaism, and IslamHumans are spiritual beings created by

God/Jehovah/Allah and in a continued relationship with their creator.

Good and evil are defined in terms of how well human beings conform to God’s character or God’s law.

Christian doctrine of “original sin” states that human beings are inherently corrupt because of the sins of Adam and Eve.

Human nature is in constant spiritual battle between good and evil.

Polytheistic ReligionsHuman beings are citizens in a world

inhabited by other intelligent spiritual beings.Human evil is often regarded as the result of

supernatural influences.

Pantheistic ReligionsInclude Buddhism, Hinduism, and other

forms of Eastern philosophy.Regard humanity as existing within God or as

part of the divine cosmos.Human evil is usually regarded as the result

of ignorance of this universal Divine nature.

Social/Biological DeterminismHuman behavior is determined by biological

and social factors.Inherent human instincts are not truly to

blame for actions considered “bad” or truly credited for actions considered “good.”

John Locke 17th century English philosopherHumans are inherently good.Humans in their natural state have perfect freedom to act according to the laws of nature.

Thomas Hobbes17th Century English PhilisopherHumans are inherently in a “war of all against all.”

In the state of nature, life is “nasty, brutish, and short.”

State of nature is remedied by good government.

Pelagius4th century Welsh monkHumans are fully capable of choosing good or evil.

Bertrand Russell 20th Century British philosopherMoral evil or sin is actually derived from instincts transmitted to us from our ancestry of beasts of prey.

John Locke17th Century English PhilosopherHuman nature is tabula rasa (a blank slate).

Rules for right and wrong are formed solely by our experiences.

Jean Jacques Rousseau18th Century Swiss PhilosopherMan is innocent when is in the state

of nature, but is corrupted by society.Humans in the state of nature may

act with all of the ferocity of an animal.

Humans are good because they are self-sufficient and thus not subject to the vices of political society.

Karl Marx19th Century German PhilosopherHuman character depends entirely on socialization and experience.

People are influenced and, in part, determined by their environments.