mike_decock

I agree with you Jamie. You could easily have varying degrees of goodness without the presence of evil.

-Mike...

Volker.Doormann

Jamie,

That above statement simple means, that one can only appreciate something good, if he knows the different from evil to good. The good is absolute and only to be recognized, if there is also a knowledge about the evil as reference. No one is able to distinguish good from evil, if the evil as counterpart of the good is not known. With this knowledge is in no way an assessment connected. It is still a realization of that, was is.

If there is suffer as a reality in this world - and I am very sensitive to this - this reality does not change only by a confirmation or a condemnation. Sorrow directs the attention to a conflict, for that should be understand in it's cause. If the consciousness is aware about the actions, which do generate this conflict, it is possible to solve the conflict. The consciousness must recognized evil actions as evil, without this view and without the awareness about exact this evil actions, no conflict, that generates sorrow, can be solved. To look with open eyes in the evil, this mirrors the counterpart of the couple, the good.

Evil is not an abstract quality; it is a reality in our individual imperfect actions that build our society. We as individuals are the creators of sorrow. If we do not will aware about our individual imperfection in acting, all confirmation of the good and all condemnation of the evil is worthless.

I'm not sure, whether my thoughts relates to your questions. (?)

Volker