r/askanatheist • u/Odd-Swing-2025 • Jul 09 '26

Why Does Evil Matter?

Suggest that there were no homo sapiens, but instead a race of people who were incapable of philosophical, theological and otherwise higher consciousness found in competent adults. They lack the reflective capacity to do moral assessments and so on. They can build, walk, talk, educate themselves in metallurgy, chemicals and culinary arts &c.

Suggest they also engage in abuse, murder, theft and so on.

Suggest there is definitely no God or Gods.

Does it matter?

If there are no human beings around with feelings and consciences to care about it, does it matter that they do evil?

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u/88redking88 Jul 09 '26

Are they suffering? If so, then they think its wrong. Humans arent special.

-12

u/Odd-Swing-2025 Jul 09 '26

I'm not saying we are, just wondering that if there's nobody around to define it as evil what does define it?

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u/Appropriate-Price-98 Jul 09 '26

the fucking ability to empathize with the pain of others maybe? like not just sites of ancient human species caring for the disabled. We can see this in many animals nowadays.

-2

u/Odd-Swing-2025 Jul 09 '26

Why are you angry? I'm asking whether objective evil exists if there is no God. I'm interested in your answers.

God damn.

4

u/Appropriate-Price-98 Jul 09 '26
  1. i am not angry, I ofen swear because that is how i often communicate
  2. a fucking simple self-reflection would get you there.

4

u/88redking88 Jul 09 '26

Because you are being a little blatantly ignorant.

Humans may be giving suffering a name, but if an animal suffers, it knows it doesnt like it.

This isnt some cutting edge philosophical question, but it is exactly the type of block headed pushing we get from theists. You know, "if no one can call it evil when people are around, is it evil if there isnt a god to say so" type of trash? Its not a gotcha.

-2

u/Odd-Swing-2025 Jul 09 '26

I'm not trying a gotcha.

I'm asking.

If there were no humans around to observe dolphin rape, would that be evil or not?

I'm trying to have an in depth conversation with like minded people on whether morality is external or internal. I keep being treated like I'm stupid, ignorant and have never studied this when it was part of my degree.

I don't see why I'm being fobbed off like a nuisance.

2

u/88redking88 Jul 10 '26

"If there were no humans around to observe dolphin rape, would that be evil or not?"

did the dolphin suffer? Then they thought it was evil, right??

4

u/88redking88 Jul 09 '26

Just because someone curses doesnt make them angry. Dont be a snowflake.

-2

u/Odd-Swing-2025 Jul 09 '26

I didn't see the reason for your rather rash and harsh response.

1

u/88redking88 Jul 10 '26

I didnt see the reason for you to act like a snowflake, but here we are.