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[Mairi]

This Thursday my friend and I were debating over this: he thinks that humans are born evil and will be evil no matter what, and I think that we learn to be evil through society.

My theory is that if you raise someone in a completely isolated environment, such as a laboratory or something, they will grow up to be be a truly good person.
His theory is that no matter how they are raised, humans will sin and be evil.

What are your theories?

(Just to clarify: by evil I mean it in the way that we are all evil, not evil like Hitler)

[sexy sadie]

i agree with you, mairi. i think it's society & perhaps media that forms people to be the way they are. for example, if someone was left alone without anyone to interact with, they wouldn't have to experience feelings such as jealousy, because there would be no one to compare things with. also, if traits like short temper come through being around other people, that person wouldn't have that kind of knowledge to be able to add it into their personality. i hope that makes sense haha

[lennonlemon]

interesting idea, but i'm pretty sure you're not the only person who's ever thought of it. in many ways, it does make sense. many evils we commit are related with other people, society, and the environment.

as for your friend's idea. i just don't see how a person is born evil without any exposure and knowledge of evil and people. it's always the ignorant ones that just follow the pack and try to make everyone else happy.

[Mairi]

His idea was that we are born with a sort of "evil seed" that gives us the potential to be evil, but it doesn't show up until later in life.

[joan was quizzical]

Well there have been cases where children have grown up completely alienated from "civilization." I think the boy was named Victor who was found in the woods, and had grown up completely in the "wild" and learned to run on all fours and never learned language. With these cases, evilness or goodness don't seem to fit in. The concepts are meaningless outside of culture.

I would take your theory further and say that not only is "evil" learned in society, but the very idea of evil and good are products of society. Just like right and wrong, or beautiful and ugly.

~ missy

[Herecomesyoursun]

definately born evil.  if you look in the animal world, its survival of the fittest.  we'd backstab and take advantage of regardless of our environment

[Joost]

I think some people are born evil.