Are We Born Evil or Do We Learn It

[Aki no iko]

Okay so there's a book by William Golding called "Lord of the Flies". It's basically about these guys from a boarding school being stranded on an island with no rules and harsh survival tactics.

Golding wrote this novel to express what he believes about the human nature known as "evil". He believes that we are all evil and without rules/laws and conduct, the world would be in complete and total chaos. He believes that we learn to "love" and we learn right from wrong, but where situations take place, our nature deprives our bodies and reveals itself in horrific manners such as murder/abuse/rape/etc.

Just recently, I've been a part of a serious and tense debate in my English ll gate class. About half believed that we were born evil and half believed that we learn evil. The debate was gruesome and choking. In the end, it seemed that those who said that we were born evil expressed more facts/opinions over those who said we learn evil. And realize that the bible says that we are born evil in one of its verses.


WHAT DO YOU THINK???

[Are We Are Born Evil And Taught Right From Wrong] [OR] [We Are Born Pure and Taught Evil]


STATE YOUR OPINIONS AND BELIEFS!!!

[Konata Izumi]

Well, I think people taught one way or another, I don't think it's possible to be born evil, unless you're looking at some supernatural cartoon or something.

[LiLi.]

You cant be born evil cant ya? I mean you're a pure angel (=_=") when you're born, and you learn how to be evil by seeing some scary things or having bad friends or whatever.

[.Lovebeat]

You learn how to be evil depending on your childhood.

[zyronet]

I don't think the answer lies within the two given choices.
That mostly depends on something a person look towards life.

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

Evil is subjective.

The answer that closest approximates your question: We are all born to be a docile herd-member when it best suits us, and are a wolf among sheep when it does not.

[sa5m]

I think that every child is born into the world pure. They learn to be "evil" from their experiences as a child and the people he/she is surrounded with.

And we also have to take into account the child's genes too... XD

[Overlord Darth Fluffles]

In my view, I say we're born with only our natural instincts of crying to get what we want, sleep, poop, and laugh with happiness. No real determination of "Good" or "Evil". But as we go along our mind develops fears, bizzare images, hates, loves, or outrageous acts of fun. In my view Evil is mostly jsut point of view, except those rare accounts when someone really IS evil. For example, smeoen lost a loved one, wife, husband, etc. and wants blood for revenge. To some that's a cold evil act of revenge to THAT person it's a good act for the situation.

Basically I'm saying we learn it, or are judged evil. Just like good, our actions alone don't define if it's "good" or "evil" judgement also plays a role in it.

Buuuuutttttttt that's just my thoughts on it. I await someone to attack me on it.

[gaaraismine]

well i say we can be born evil, depending on who the person is. i think we learn what evil is. but some how sometimes some people are born evil.

[UrusaiSevera]

We learn by imitation, so if you're parents are evil (i.e. do "evil" things), your first inclination probably will be to do evil too. But then on the other hand, you can "become evil" because of the things done to you when you are growing up.

So I would say we are born "pure", but how can you call a baby, waking you up at all hours of the night "pure"? That's just evil >>

[Perpetual Specter]

People aren't born evil.The different types of influences acquired throughout a person's childhood usually determines the type of person they turn out to be.

[Eris]

I think that every child is born into the world pure. They learn to be "evil" from their experiences as a child and the people he/she is surrounded with.

And we also have to take into account the child's genes too... XD

But then do -all- children act "evil", as soon as they are out of the cradle? They steal, they lie, they fight like no adult would.

I don't believe in good or evil. It's, as mp2k put it, subjective. One man's sins is another man's virtues.

[Nosferatu Karyuudo]

I think it's both,we born with it but we can also learn it.

[Eris]

To elaborate, I think that what that book really teaches us about isn't that we are naturally evil, it is how artificial so much of our society is. Laws and morality are nothing but words, and no matter how hard we tell ourselves otherwise, we are no different from the lowly animal.

To put things in perspective, some two millenia ago, there was this uncivilized barbarian tugging at the shoe laces of society, trying to tear down all that humanity had achieved, and all it stood for. A terrorist, a criminal. Today, he is known as Jesus Christ, and he is the civilized and Rome the evil barbarians. Moral of the story (pun intended): Morality changes.

[Sobriquet]

Ah, the nature versus nurture debate. =D
I would lean more to the nurture side of this issue.

[Shia_san]

i think we are born with evil, but we have the choice to use it or not.
.................................................. ...........
wow....that was deep, for me; i mean.

[Elphaba]

Well, I think people taught one way or another, I don't think it's possible to be born evil, unless you're looking at some supernatural cartoon or something.

thats what i was going to say. ^^

[International 4-8818]

We are born innocent and pure. The only way one can be evil is to be taught to do evil. But here's a question, what was the first evil to make evil in humans? Ah... Well i quote Corky romano, "Dogs are born evil, there made."

[Eris]

We are born innocent and pure. The only way one can be evil is to be taught to do evil. But here's a question, what was the first evil to make evil in humans? Ah... Well i quote Corky romano, "Dogs are born evil, there made."

Again I ask, if people are born innocent and pure, why do we need to teach our young not to steal, lie and cheat?

[Acnologia]

We are born with good and evil in us, it depends on which you choose to follow.

[Overlord Darth Fluffles]

Again I ask, if people are born innocent and pure, why do we need to teach our young not to steal, lie and cheat?

Because society is insecure and would double check ot make sure we obey their ridiculous laws and demands? I is just taking a guess.

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

Because society is insecure and would double check ot make sure we obey their ridiculous laws and demands? I is just taking a guess.

Methinks it was more of a rhetorical question.

[Overlord Darth Fluffles]

Methinks it was more of a rhetorical question.

I had the feeling, but no harm attempting an answer.

[Niome!]

Sorry for double posting!

[Niome!]

"Good & Evil" is a flawed concept rationally. Other wise it has everything to do with morality and belief, IMO.

For example, England and Churchill considered Hitler evil because of his actions but matter of fact everyone in Germany thought Hitler was good, he was awesome.

No not because their "All Nazi's", thats stupid. Hitler brought them jobs, pride, new hope, cetera everything.

See? What you may view as evil could be good by someone else.

We are born with good and evil in us, it depends on which you choose to follow.

What does that mean? Like I said what you and Golding think as evil inside of us could be my greatest quality and everyone in my family loves it.

Am I evil because I cut down trees? No I believe I am good because those trees which are beneficial to the environment are keeping my family warm and what is keeping us survive through the winter.

Think about it as Negative and Positive and the example is Brazil and many parts of South America. Everyone else thinks that South Americans cutting down trees is terrible because it is removing valuable trees that could be sieging against the Ozone layers gap and it is.

But they cut them down because they need it to farm to survive.

Sounds like you go to a religious school Aki No Iko, is that correct?