The problem of evil may not be so evil

[phyllo]

Empathy and compassion, both of which may appear as unreasonable.

Is it reasonable to care about other people? Most would answer… yes.

[Ierrellus]

@phyllo

Empathy and compassion, both of which may appear as unreasonable.

Is it reasonable to care about other people? Most would answer… yes.

But many would answer no. It’s a dog eat dog world. Selfishness is the standard of behavior.

[phyllo]

But many would answer no. It’s a dog eat dog world. Selfishness is the standard of behavior.

If you need to eat , then you will eat the other dog. Once your basic survival needs are satisfied, then you turn to thoughts of compassion.

But you think that empathy and compassion should take precedence over survival. Other people’s lives should be considered more valuable than your own.

[Ierrellus]

@phyllo

But many would answer no. It’s a dog eat dog world. Selfishness is the standard of behavior.

If you need to eat , then you will eat the other dog. Once your basic survival needs are satisfied, then you turn to thoughts of compassion.

But you think that empathy and compassion should take precedence over survival. Other people’s lives should be considered more valuable than your own.

Just as, not more than, valuable.

[phyllo]

Just as, not more than, valuable.

Right. But when doing the math, there is only one you and many others. Therefore, it’s possible to say that your interests should always be surrendered to the interests of the multitude.

And god knows, that has been the motto of much tyranny.

[Uccisore]

@Dan~

I seem to see that animals strongly want to live, moreso than a regular man, and they do not suffer in a large or long way.
Death and pain do exist, but death and pain is not evil.
Hedonists claim pain is evil and pleasure is good.
But, i am not a hedonist and i tire of that idea.

The problem of evil is not as big a problem as i thought.

 DesCartes wrote that the rational man can learn to appreciate his own suffering with a sort of detachment that I compare to catharsis.  I wouldn't say all suffering can be justified in that way, but certainly a lot of it can, and there's something to be said for the Problem of Evil becoming more popular and convincing the more petulant and needy a society becomes.  Societies that have suffered far more than we have also had far more faith- in fact, you can practically make a maxim of that. It seems unlikely that they were just too stupid to ponder the relation between a good God and suffering, so likely something peculiar to us is at play.