Good/Evil vs. Right/Wrong

[fourfuries at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 27843

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., caliburncy at y... wrote:
> 
> Now, I'm the last person that should be talking about "good" and 
> "evil", because quite frankly I don't believe such a distinction 
truly 
> exists.  I definitely believe in "right" and "wrong", but that's 
not 
> the same.  Anyway, that's another discussion for another time, and 
> probably not even on this list.
> 
> But evilness, if it exists, surely has an objective definition?  
> Surely its not just based on our personal opinions like someone 
being 
> deemed "irritating" is?
> 


Thanks for bringing up this point, Luke.  Unlike you, I am rather 
certain that Good and Evil exist as conditions of the human spirit, 
and that actions taken as a result of these internal motivations are 
the things we judge as right and wrong.

Prior list members have observed the objective existence of the Seven 
Deadly Sins (Pride, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Lust and Envy).  
To my mind, these are the only Evils that exist, and they only exist 
in the character of humans (or in the mind of God, for you 
Christians, Jews and Muslims out there).

The things we do as a result of these conditions, or the actions we 
take to fulfill or satisfy these inclinations, are what others judge 
as right and wrong.  Under this analysis, Right and Wrong may 
continue to vary depending on the circumstance (relativity), but Good 
and Evil are absolutes. 

By way of example (and in the interest of avoiding the OT Patrol), 
how does this apply to HP?  Harry and Ron, as well as MWPP before 
them, break just as many rules as Draco and many more than Tom 
Riddle, but their actions are always (or nearly always) motivated by 
love for a friend, protection of the innocent,etc.  Hermione told a 
lie to get the the boys out of trouble for the troll in CoS, but her 
motivation was gratitude for them saving her.

This is why Barty Crouch Senior is of interest.  He stands for the 
propostion that the end justifies the means.  But in the end, he was 
done in by loyalty to his wife and love for his son.  Yet the 
LeStranges display a loyalty superior to any in canon so far, be it 
good guy or bad guy.  So what makes Crouch Sr good, and Jr. and the 
LeStranges Evil?  Their actions!

Crouch Sr. saw the error of his ways, albeit too late, and tried to 
warn Dumbledore.  You might say he repented of his prideful arrogance 
in removing Jr. from Azkaban.  Unfortunately, he found out why Pride 
is the foremost of the Deadly Sins.

4FR