Q & A

Q: Is humanity basically good or inherently evil?

A: This is an interesting and intriguing question. In a previous mindset, I would have said humanity was inherently evil because of the Calvinist doctrine concerning total depravity and original sin. The gist of that doctrine was that all human actions are tainted by sin. Needless to say, I have evolved considerably from that viewpoint.

The first aspect of answering this question is to ask another question. What is evil? I define evil as causing the suffering and harm of another individual purely for its own sake. We define this as being sociopathic. Basically, an evil person derives enjoyment from the suffering of other people and injustices committed against them. This is opposed to the bank robber who shoots a guard while attempting to escape. The act is criminal but was perpetrated for some other reason which in this case was making an escape. A sociopath just shoots people because it feels good.

On the basis of this definition, humanity is not evil. Some will argue that the reason people don't commit sociopathic acts is because of the consequences of getting caught and punished. But this isn't true. I know that I can get in my car and drive to some city this weekend and kill some random stranger, come home, and nothing will ever happen to me. The reason I don't do this sort of thing is because I find it abhorrent and sickening. But some people do things like this which is what makes serial killers so damn hard to catch. It is the pure randomness of their acts. You can get away with murder as long as there is no connection between you and the victim. Fear of punishment is not a factor here.

The fact that many soldiers and Marines are coming back from overseas and committing suicide is testimony to the fact that murder is largely an unnatural act for most people. Even during the Holocaust, the Final Solution was devised because so many German officers were conscience stricken and could not pull off the crimes they were ordered to do.

Natural disasters are another example. Records of charitable giving are set for things like the Haitian earthquake. The capacity for human compassion is quite remarkable. Even foolish things like the welfare state which do more harm than good spring from a basically charitable nature and impulse. It is difficult to see where humanity is predisposed to atrocity and evil acts.

The bulk of evil that is perpetrated seems politically or religiously driven. Governments and religions are responsible for more death and human suffering than any other human institution. From the Holocaust to the Cruades to Stalin to Pol Pot, most human atrocities are associated with religious or political causes. To a lesser extent are criminal endeavors involving organized syndicates and gangs, but these exist in tandem with government and its prohibitions.

What I can agree with is that human beings are inherently selfish. But selfishness is not a bad thing. Selfishness gets labelled as evil which puts us prostrate before an Almighty God and those who serve him. That is the point. But all actions stem from selfishness. The guilt over this is nothing more than a logical trick to gain control over others. The primary motive for all people is happiness. Self-negation is impossible. We do all things from the atrocious to the sacrificial in order to fulfill ourselves.

When we put all this information into the Argument Blender, we come to the conclusion that humans are inherently selfish, but their actions are variable. People respond to what they know and believe. This is how a devoted father of two can go overseas and kill another devoted father of two. Evil in this instance comes from a belief that what is being done is actually good. When that realization changes, guilt is soon to follow which is why more US service personnel now die from suicide than from actual combat.

Ideas matter. The bulk of human suffering comes from bad ideas. When people believe bad things, this leads to bad actions. If we can say anything about humanity, it is inherently stupid. People respond more from ignorance than malice. The fact that the Holocaust or slavery or Jim Crow are considered atrocious by most people now show that there is hope that people can change.


People are only good to the extent of their knowledge and enlightenment.

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