Subj : Knowledge of Good & Evil
To   : RICHARD M. MEIC
From : LEE LOFASO
Date : Mon Jul 23 2001 01:41 pm

Hello Richard,

>LL>What makes you so sure it was a *bad* tangent?  <g>

RMM>Because it had absolutely nothing to do with the topic and everything to
RMM>do with a person's percieved insult.  The topic itslef never got off the
RMM>ground.

I once insulted a psychiatrist to the point he tried writing with
an eraser.  That's when I knew I had really gotten inside the guy's
head.  :)

>LL>Before I bring in Pavlov's dog, let me say that you have brought up
>  >an excellent point.  Can you extrapolate more on that thought?

RMM>Possibly.

Please do.

>LL>Could
>  >it be that before the fall, Adam and Eve had no concept (knowledge)
>  >of good and evil prior to eating of the forbidden fruit?  If so,
>  >that would seem to indicate that the knowledge of good and evil was
>  >external before they ate the golden fruit, and internal after they
>  >ate the fruit.

RMM>I am unable to answer this question under the grounds that it has
RMM>a heavy biblical influence.

Then use reasoning from other knowledge.

Hobbes, Rousseau, Carneades, Nietzche, Evolutionists of all kinds, as
well as Socialists seem to disagree with your point of view.  Even Occam
and Descartes beg different views.  The theory all of these philosophers
hold is that of 'Moral Positivism' - albeit each in a different light.

RMM>I am sorry, but because of past experience I refuse
RMM>to discuss anything under those conditions.

There is no 'heavy biblical influence' as you seem to imply.
It's a biblical story used to demonstrate a philosophical point.

The question addressed is "What is the origin of evil?", or more
precisely, "What is the origin of the distinction between good and
evil?".  Your stated position is that it is internal rather than
external.  If so, when did this 'internal' manifestation of evil
begin?  What is it's origin?

It should be kept in mind this question is subjugant to the
universal principle "Do good and avoid evil."  Kind of hard to
base a philosophy on "Do evil and avoid good" - unless one is
a Satanist.  :)

note:
In order to gain knowledge, there are three main ways of doing so.
One way is direct observation, in which an individual observes an
actual event.  Another way is by reports from other people.  And
still one other way is by reasoning from other knowledge.  By using
one or more of these three ways, an individual can generally come
up with a valid and sound conclusion.  Hope that helps.

--Lee


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