From: user6340@newsgrouper.org.invalid   
      
   JTEM  posted:   
   >   
   >  >    
   >  > Calling evil something that can simply be   
   >  > "defeated" assumes it is a single, concrete   
   >  > thing.   
   >   
   > I have to agree that this doesn't make sense at   
   > all.   
   >   
   > What if any criteria does something have to meet   
   > to qualify as evil?   
   >   
   > I think that...   
   >   
   > #1.  Intent.   
   >   
   > You had to intend to do whatever it is that we want   
   > to call evil. Obviously hitting a patch of black   
   > ice and skidding into a young family on the sidewalk   
   > is bad but, did you even know they were there? Did   
   > you even know there was black ice present?   
      
   I agree. There must be evil intent, and an accident   
   in which a bad outcome could not be foreseen is not evil.   
   >   
   > #2.  Knowledge.   
   >   
   > You had to know the harmful nature of the act and   
   > wanted that harm to result, or at least never cared   
   > either way.   
   >   
   > NOTE:  Back when we had journalism, the standard was   
   > "Known or should have known." Saying "I didn't know"   
   > was never a defense if it was deemed reasonable to   
   > assume that the information was readily obtainable, or   
   > needed to be obtained FIRST regardless of how difficult   
   > it would be to secure it.   
      
   I agree.   
   >   
   > #3.  Results/Potential   
   >   
   > If I sit in the grass, take careful aim then shoot   
   > someone in the head just as a Thrill Kill that would   
   > likely meet anyone's definition of evil. But what if   
   > I miss? What if you never even knew that I shot at   
   > you?  Nobody was harmed, right?  So was it evil?   
   >   
   > I would believe "Yes."   
      
   Yes.   
   >   
   > NOTE:  The law does treat ATTEMPTED murder differently   
   > than murder, even though they set out to kill someone   
   > and usually went through the motions of securing their   
   > death. The defense argument is that the failure is the   
   > result of a change of heart, conscience (guilt), doubts...   
      
   Attempted murder is still evil.   
   >   
   > What am I missing here?   
   >   
   > What "Element" is necessary to qualify something as "Evil."   
      
   You're right, it's the person's intent to purposely   
   do evil that makes their actions evil.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)