Blog #3 - Allie Gregory

          I really struggle with the idea of truly evil human beings. Certainly, it is an undeniable truth that some people do absolutely terrible things. I know that. Some people have twisted morals or else no sense of respect for other humans, but I see these people as damaged somehow. Either they grew up with bad role models or no direction, or they have some form of mental disorder. And I don’t consider this evil. A psychopath has no capability whatsoever for human emotion. Many will therefore commit actions that come across as cruel or calloused. When a psychopath commits murder, it’s almost always premeditated and carried out without regret (I’ve done my research – long story), and this seems evil, but really it’s just a side effect of lacking human connection. If someone were to call a psychopath murderer inhuman, then I would consider their argument, but evil… I’m less inclined.

          It’s not that there aren’t bad people. Some people are mean, and I don’t allot them much sympathy. Likewise there are good people who are driven to help others and are understanding and forgiving in their nature. However, I don’t think of these characteristics as inherent. I don’t think that some people are just born terrible, and the same way I know people who are basically good can do bad things, I like to think people who do bad things have at least some inkling of good in them.

          To answer the questions, I do believe in good and evil. Neither exists without the other, and people are obviously drawn in both directions. However, I like to think, just for optimism’s sake, that human’s are inclined to be good.