Tracks of good and evil

Why have the concept of good and evil. Does it exist in nature or just in the collective imagination of humanity? We are of course of nature so yes, it does exist in nature itself but is it a reality, something tangible?

It would appear that good is hard to pin down as one's good is another's evil. At times it seems more like preference than anything else. Maybe even someone else's preference that has been learned, some tacitly, some directly. If it is a learned behavior, how can it be good? shouldn't 'good' be so natural that it is a part of our structure?

I have a dog. Is he a good dog? What would make him so? What would make him a bad dog? Again, it comes down to preference. For many, a bad dog is one that pees on the rug and chews all of the shoes and a good dog is one that follows command and obeys the lessons of the master.

From a dog's perspective, is the label of good or bad based on these things fitting? After all, it is a dog, an animal with instincts to act, rules created in its very nature. Do those rules say 'Do what people tell you'? By the dog's definition (if it possible could have one) a good dog is probably one that does normal dog things.

Good behavior for humans always means some form of control. Often, the control of the very natures that make us human. I find this interesting in many ways. Especially how willing we are to give up our uniqueness to fit into a casting mold.

We are products of our environment and perhaps that is part of the problem for once that meant to be at the mercy of the elements, our two hands to build, our two feet to run. That environment has been gone for millennia and in its place is an environment contrived from the countless minds that went before to create what is. Now, like the dog acting to get the treat, we conform to the will of our environment.

And it tells us to seek what is good and destroy what is evil. A tale as old as time. Human time at least. Seeking what is good is easy, just look to what all others do within the group and that is the accepted good. Evil poses a problem.

For evil is wily according to the dogooders, we never know what trick evil will play next to bend our ear, gain our trust and drive us to do things that are unnatural, in our created environment. We must be vigilant and seek evil where it breeds, in what is not good. What is not like us.

Evil is always on the other side of us, opposed to good, the night to our day. For we cannot be evil for we do the work of good. Everyone in our group does the work of good for the actions passed down through the ages are the movements of good incarnate. History has proven it to us for the predicted future is that good always prevails. And here we are, prevailing.

But where is this evil foe, where do they live? For if we knew that, then we can eradicate evil forever. Wipe it from the face of the earth and harmony and peace will reign for once evil is no longer present, only good can be. Is it not this simple?

Good and evil seem very complicated and there are many exceptions to the rules. Do not kill, unless. Do unto others, unless. Do not drink, unless. Do not do this and that or if you do you are evil, unless.

I wonder, if nature would be so complicated. Complex yes, but the rule of nature is to maximize opportunity within what is possible, even if that instance does not survive for more than a moment. The rules of humans are to limit possibility itself. Nature does not say no, it says, let's see in the instant and what may not work today, may tomorrow and what is working now could break tomorrow.

Endless variations possible from endless mutations, but the world of humans is trying to create a solid framework to order the world. The perfect solution. Nature says, it is perfect now even though the now is always changing, until it changes no more.

And because of this change, nature is unlikely to concern itself with good and evil for it is on the only path possible, forward, straight down the middle. There is no deviation as it rolls on endlessly down this one way track.

But, as limited humans we are still at the mercy of our mind, what we have learned and the environment we have created; and we must decide what good and evil is to us. Perhaps though, it is not a question we can answer as a group, it is only one we can discover as an individual.

What would happen if you looked within and discovered you were evil? Would you believe it, or justify it away and reclassify what it means to be good?

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]