Our biggest problem?

[PsychoSarah]

Mankind is a mixture of good and evil, with the balance constantly changing.

With good and evil being such arbitrary concepts that two random people could easily differ on their opinion of whether or not the majority of people are evil/good/neutral. From my experience, people are opportunists when it comes to "good", only being good when it doesn't inconvenience them (or if it would inconvenience them not to be). For example, a poor person isn't near as likely to be willing to donate half their wages to charity as a wealthy person. Evil is a matter of risk versus reward, as well as impulsiveness. Your average civilian wouldn't be willing to shoot a stranger, but it's part of the job when it comes to being a soldier (even having to shoot the unarmed, if the order is given).

 

[OldWiseGuy]

With good and evil being such arbitrary concepts that two random people could easily differ on their opinion of whether or not the majority of people are evil/good/neutral. From my experience, people are opportunists when it comes to "good", only being good when it doesn't inconvenience them (or if it would inconvenience them not to be). For example, a poor person isn't near as likely to be willing to donate half their wages to charity as a wealthy person. Evil is a matter of risk versus reward, as well as impulsiveness. Your average civilian wouldn't be willing to shoot a stranger, but it's part of the job when it comes to being a soldier (even having to shoot the unarmed, if the order is given).

I would rather judge the whole of mankind than get down to individual cases in this regard. And I would consider the 'fruits' of our behaviors and judgments to be the best indicator of good vs. evil (I actually prefer the terms good vs. bad).

 

[PsychoSarah]

I would rather judge the whole of mankind than get down to individual cases in this regard. And I would consider the 'fruits' of our behaviors and judgments to be the best indicator of good vs. evil (I actually prefer the terms good vs. bad).

The majority of humanity doesn't make a huge impact on societal choices. The leaders we elect/inherit do.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The majority of humanity doesn't make a huge impact on societal choices. The leaders we elect/inherit do.

Most 'societal choices' are driven by people's needs and desires, not by leaders. For example which came first,

The criminal justice system, or societal criminality?
The healthcare system, or sick and injured people?
The highway system, or the need and desire to travel?
The welfare system, or the need for such a system.?

Government is reactive, seldom proactive.