essay on good and evil

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On the Genealogy of Morals

Friedrich nietzsche.

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Human Nature: Good vs Evil Essay

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The world of today is a very delicate place where good and evil are constantly present creating choices and differentiating between individuals. The notion that there are no bad or evil people is true because in reality no one desires or plans to be evil there are only those who are lost in the search for good. Every person living on the planet is faced with a personal choice of how to attend to the matters at hand. The circumstances and the environment dictate a choice of an individual. Everybody is born inherently a good person but the imperfect and uneven surroundings create a difference between those with the ability to take on the hardships and stay true to themselves and those without a chance to support their good intentions.

The real issue at hand is that no one is able to control the time and place they grow up in. When a person is born they are influenced by their family, friends, and society.

An individual goes through stages of development in education, work, and life that shape the attitude and behavior.

If a person is born in a caring and loving family, which has the knowledge to educate the child, support him/her in their beginnings and provide a perspective that is based on kindness and respect then the individual will most likely become a kind and respectful person. The raising of a child is a very delicate matter and for a long time, it has been speculated what exactly makes a person the way they are. Psychologists have had a continuous argument if it is nature or nurture that makes up a human being and the common belief has emerged that both take part in the formation of an individual.

The fact that the world has not become fully evil proves the point that there are more good people than bad. This is a natural balance that is not controlled by humans but by the nature of existence of any life. For a very long time, there has been a Good Samaritan act that shows how a caring and kind person is not able to ignorantly pass by someone who needs help. Kindness is sometimes based on previous experiences where a particular person was helped and they have remembered that time and feel the need to return the favor. Unfortunately, there are often conditions in the world where a person has to grow up in a very limited and harsh environment. If from the very birth a person has to struggle and fight for their own survival they are almost forced to commit bad deeds. Very often an individual simply has no opportunity to let their good side and kindness emerge. Overall this is a very sensitive matter that is hard to support by any empirical evidence, which makes the true mechanism of creation of a person’s character almost untraceable.

Throughout history, there have been instances where people were faced with a crucial decision of what path to choose, either the path of evil, which sometimes delivers success faster and easier, or the path of goodness, which can be equally as fulfilling but very often requires a degree of patience, belief and strength. An argument of whether to choose kindness or the opposite is really nonexistent because there are numerous examples in history that demonstrate how good deeds are rewarded and return tenfold. Human civilization is considered to be a young and developing species that have much to learn yet but the idea that a positive and loving attitude brings more goodness and evil only creates evil is true and is widely supported by the knowing population.

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IvyPanda. (2022, February 3). Human Nature: Good vs Evil. https://ivypanda.com/essays/good-vs-evil/

"Human Nature: Good vs Evil." IvyPanda , 3 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/good-vs-evil/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Human Nature: Good vs Evil'. 3 February.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Human Nature: Good vs Evil." February 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/good-vs-evil/.

1. IvyPanda . "Human Nature: Good vs Evil." February 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/good-vs-evil/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Human Nature: Good vs Evil." February 3, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/good-vs-evil/.

Mr Salles Teaches English

Jekyll and Hyde: Good and Evil Essay

Michael chockler's essay.

THE SEVEN SKILLS OF ESSAY WRITING

1. A thesis with three ideas in it, which the essay will explain and prove. 2. Each paragraph refers back to the ideas in the thesis. 3. Quotations are embedded. 4. The characters are constructs used to show the author’s viewpoint. 5. The author’s viewpoint is explained. 6. The essay writes about the whole text - at least beginning, middle and end. 7. The conclusion includes an interpretation of the ending.

Can You Get a Grade 9 if You Don’t Like English?

As a token of my appreciation for all the help you gave me for the duration in which I was forced to study English Literature at school , I'm attaching this essay for you to possibly use in a future video. Michael

How does Stevenson present ideas about Good and Evil in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’?

(Extract: Pg. 44-45, “I knew myself [...] was pure evil”)

“I knew myself, at the first breath of this new life, to be more wicked, tenfold more wicked, sold a slave to my original evil; and the thought, in that moment, braced and delighted me like wine. I stretched out my hands, exulting in the freshness of these sensations; and in the act, I was suddenly aware that I had lost in stature.

There was no mirror, at that date, in my room; that which stands beside me as I write, was brought there later on and for the very purpose of these transformations. The night however, was far gone into the morning—the morning, black as it was, was nearly ripe for the conception of the day—the inmates of my house were locked in the most rigorous hours of slumber; and I determined, flushed as I was with hope and triumph, to venture in my new shape as far as to my bedroom. I crossed the yard, wherein the constellations looked down upon me, I could have thought, with wonder, the first creature of that sort that their unsleeping vigilance had yet disclosed to them; I stole through the corridors, a stranger in my own house; and coming to my room, I saw for the first time the appearance of Edward Hyde.

I must here speak by theory alone, saying not that which I know, but that which I suppose to be most probable. The evil side of my nature, to which I had now transferred the stamping efficacy, was less robust and less developed than the good which I had just deposed. Again, in the course of my life, which had been, after all, nine tenths a life of effort, virtue and control, it had been much less exercised and much less exhausted. And hence, as I think, it came about that Edward Hyde was so much smaller, slighter and younger than Henry Jekyll. Even as good shone upon the countenance of the one, evil was written broadly and plainly on the face of the other. Evil besides (which I must still believe to be the lethal side of man) had left on that body an imprint of deformity and decay. And yet when I looked upon that ugly idol in the glass, I was conscious of no repugnance, rather of a leap of welcome. This, too, was myself. It seemed natural and human. In my eyes it bore a livelier image of the spirit, it seemed more express and single, than the imperfect and divided countenance I had been hitherto accustomed to call mine. And in so far I was doubtless right. I have observed that when I wore the semblance of Edward Hyde, none could come near to me at first without a visible misgiving of the flesh. This, as I take it, was because all human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.”

The Essay with Examiner Comments

Stevenson presents good and evil in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ as a natural component of man that should be understood, rather than something that should hold society inmate to its Christian afflictions. In the extract, Dr Jekyll is uncovering to the reader these ideas and finally, after nine chapters of repression, he lets go and unleashes his liberated self. Stevenson aims to use Jekyll’s findings about good and evil to remind his readership of innate duality and the importance of exploring man’s more sinister side.

4 ideas in the thesis.

At least thoughtful and detailed .

Good and evil in the extract, and the novella as a whole, is presented as a natural component of man. In the extract, Stevenson aims to emphasise to a reader that, though Dr Jekyll is transforming, what he becomes is not only as human, but also as monstrous as the former. He does this by having Jekyll describe the feeling of being Hyde as “natural and human”. Hyde’s actions throughout the novella are murderous, violent, and unpredictable, so for Stevenson to describe him in ways as human and relatable indicates Stevenson’s change of perspective as he previously presents evil as sinister but begins to depict it as innate, exhibiting a view that is more sympathetic towards Hyde.

Conceptualised - both critical and sympathetic to Hyde at the same time.

Each of the adjectives connotes normality about Hyde and reinforces Stevenson’s aims to be in the direction of normalising the “evil” which the character personifies throughout the novella . Dr Jekyll also admits that “this too, was myself”, cementing an impression of unexpected humanity about Hyde through the comma in this phrase that amplifies its formality and sobriety; Jekyll has manifested all of his evil into the creation of another being but feels nonetheless human because of it.

Detailed development of the previous point make this convincing

Stevenson continues this impression throughout the rest of the chapter: “man is not truly one, but two”, presenting each side of duality to just be “one”, rendering them synonymous in worth to each other. Stevenson is depicting the duality of man to be inherently balanced, calling recognition upon the monster that lies within, deviating from other gothic writers at the time who wrote about external, inhuman monsters, such as Mary Shelley when she wrote ‘Frankenstein’ earlier in the 19th century . Stevenson is developing a gothic trope in a way that no other writers during his time dared to, adding thought-provoking memorability to the message he is sending. He ultimately pushes forward the idea that good and evil should be seen as, in an ideal society, essential and normal parts of humanity.

Convincing exploration of context to show how Stevenson’s purpose differed from other gothic writers.

Good and evil is presented as a topic that should be explored further. This is shown in the extract when Dr Jekyll says he “must here speak by theory alone, saying not that which [he knows], but that which [he supposes] to be most probable”. Jekyll is giving a long and hollow explanation of his anagnorisis* , reminding the reader that even Jekyll is unsure of any exact details behind good and evil.

* the point in a play, novel, etc., in which a principal character recognizes or discovers another character's true identity or the true nature of their own circumstances

Thoughtful, but missing a convincing purpose for Stevenson doing this.

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Ethics and Morality

The real meaning of 'good' and 'evil', how are saintly people different from 'evil' ones what does 'good' really mean.

Posted August 26, 2013 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

Good means a lack of self-centeredness, while evil means an inability to empathize with others.
Although those with a psychopathic personality appear to be unable to develop empathy, most people can cultivate it.
One way to view goodness is that it expresses something fundamental about human nature, while evil represents an aberration from it.

It's a dangerous oversimplification to believe that some people are innately ‘good’ while others are innately ‘evil’ or ‘bad.’ This misleading concept underpins the justice system of many countries — ‘bad’ people commit crimes, and since they are intrinsically ‘bad’, they should be locked away so that they can’t harm us with their ‘evil’ behavior. This concept has also fuelled wars and conflicts throughout history, and even in the present day. It makes groups believe that they are fighting a just cause against an ‘evil’ enemy and that once the ‘evil’ people have been killed, peace and goodness will reign supreme.

Human nature is infinitely more complex than this, of course. In human beings, ‘good’ and ‘evil’ are fluid. People can be a combination of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ qualities. Some people who behave cruelly and brutally can be rehabilitated and eventually display ‘good’ qualities such as empathy and kindness. And rather than being intrinsic, most cruel or brutal behavior is due to environmental factors, such as an abusive childhood , or social learning from a family or peers.

The Meaning of Good and Evil

What do we really mean when we use these simplistic terms, ‘good’ and ‘evil’?

‘Good’ means a lack of self-centeredness. It means the ability to empathize with other people, feel compassion for them, and put their needs before your own. It means, if necessary, sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of others. It means benevolence, altruism and selflessness, and self-sacrifice towards a greater cause — all qualities which stem from a sense of empathy. It means being able to see beyond the superficial difference of race, gender , or nationality and relate to a common human essence beneath them.

All of the ‘saintly’ people in human history have these qualities in abundance. Think of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, risking their own safety and well-being for the goal of gaining equal rights and freedom for Indians and African Americans. These were human beings with an exceptional degree of empathy and compassion, which overrode any concern for their own ambitions or well-being.

‘Evil’ people are those who are unable to empathize with others. As a result, their own needs and desires are of paramount importance. They are selfish, self-absorbed, and narcissistic . In fact, other people only have value for them to the extent that they can help them satisfy their own desires or be exploited. This applies to dictators like Stalin and Hitler, and to serial killers and rapists. I would argue that their primary characteristic is an inability to empathize with others. They can’t sense other people’s emotions or suffering, can’t see the world from other people’s perspectives, and so have no sense of their rights. Other human beings are just objects to them, which is what makes their brutality and cruelty possible.

Good and Evil as Flexible

Most of us lie somewhere between the extremes of Gandhi and Hitler on the spectrum of human behavior. Sometimes we may behave badly, when egocentric impulses cause us to put our needs before the welfare of others. Sometimes we behave in a saintly fashion, when empathy and compassion impel us to put the needs of others before our own, resulting in altruism and kindness.

The real difference between this idea of ‘good and evil’ and the traditional concept is that empathy or a lack of empathy aren’t fixed. Although people with a psychopathic personality appear to be unable to develop empathy, for most of us, empathy — or goodness — is a quality that can be cultivated. This is recognized by Buddhism and most other spiritual traditions. As we practice meditation or mindfulness , and as we become less attached to materialism and status-seeking, we become more open and more connected, and so more selfless and altruistic .

The ‘fluidity’ of goodness is also recognized by the process of ‘restorative justice’, which is becoming more and more widely used within European justice systems. Rather than locking ‘bad’ people away — which is unfortunately so widely practiced by the US penal system — restorative justice gives offenders the opportunity to meet their victims, to see how their crimes have affected them, which often leads to a sense of empathy for their victims — which in turn frequently leads to rehabilitation.

This is an optimistic view of nature, but I would go even further. Because the goodness in human beings emerges when we are connected — when we spread out into empathy with one another — I believe that goodness expresses something fundamental about human nature, even if it might be sometimes difficult to see. ‘Evil’ is an aberration, a form of pathology, as the psychopathic personality shows, which only emerges when we are broken off into disconnected fragments.

Steve Taylor, Ph.D., is senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University. He is the author of several best-selling books, including The Leap and Spiritual Science.

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Home / Essay Samples / Philosophy / Philosophical Concept / Good and Evil

Good and Evil Essay Examples

Do the right thing: philosophical viewpoint of thomas hobbes.

What is the right thing to do? It means doing what is best for the more noteworthy or basic great. It means settling on choices that are not founded without anyone else individual needs, that don't grow your notoriety, or uphold your own convictions. It's...

The Things that Make Good and Evil in People

There are many things scientists and philosophers can’t answer one being whether humans are born into the world good or evil; a concept that has been around since the wonders of human origin. In the novel The Lord of the Flies, written by William Golding...

Good and Evil in Our Everyday Life

In our world good and evil coexist in a harmony of chaos. Evil, in a terribly broad sense is simply the absence of good. Often in legends or religions, evil is denoted as something of the supernatural or magical force. It can sometimes be seen...

The Idea of Good Vs Evil in Toni Morrison's Sula

Toni Morrison writes the book Sula with the intention of questioning the idea of good versus bad. The novel talks about good vs bad and compares them between two main characters. The author uses the characters Sula and Nel; their values and qualities to prove...

Animosity of Good Over Evil

The majority of people have enough common sense to make the split-second decision in favor of good over evil. However, the friction between good and evil is an immense conflict for those without proper reasoning. In The Crucible and “Where Are You Going, Where Have...

A Theme of Good Vs Evil in Grendel by John Gardner

The nature of good and evil has been talked and discussed for centuries. The novel Grendel by John Gardner depicted good and evil. The novel is about a monster called Grendel with a bear-like body lives with his mother in an underground cave. When Grendel...

Evil and Good in Beowulf

In society today, we like to judge people and put a label on them before even meeting them. In the book Grendel by John Gardner, we can see the good side and bad side from the main character, Grendel. We see in today’s world, how...

The Concept of Human Will to Power: Friedrich Nietzsche

In Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche presents an unorthodox argument concerning the natural state of humankind and the means of its ultimate decline. Nietzsche claims that individuals do not allow their own natural impulses and desires to guide them, but they rather observe the...

The Balance Between Good and Evil

There are many opportunities for Steinbeck to build anticipation within the novel by leaving the option for his characters to continue to develop. This gives a prominent theme of choice to overcome within East of Eden. The moral question on whether people are born evil...

Maleficent: Choice Between Evil and Good

The issue I can find in this movie is The Human Capacity for Evil. Quoted by Maleficent in the movie, who wishes to protect Princess Aurora from all the evil in this world but it is difficult and nearly impossible, ‘there is an evil in...

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