My problem with the general argument that evil = mental illness is that it denies free will. Why can sane people choose to do good, but not choose to do evil? Basically, it says that if you do something bad, you by definition didn't choose it - you were crazy. So what about choosing to do good - is that also a mental illness, only a socially approved one?
It's pretty obvious that people like, say, Jeffrey Dahmer were legit mentally ill. Then you could get an argument going over whether that negates their evil or what.
But what about everyday cruelties? What about the people who lead legally blameless lives and are basically ordinary people who are just not nice? We all know them. They go out of their way to be mean to people, bully the helpless, vote to deprive people of human rights, etc. Mental illness? Really? If they didn't meaningfully choose their homophobic vote and nasty remark, then did the people who made the other choice: who voted for equality and said something kind-- also not have a choice? Are we basically automatons who can only choose in one direction, or we flip into crazy? If so, then we really have no choice at all.
(Have not read this book, but have had this argument MANY times. I should just choose to keep my mouth shut the next time someone says, "There's no such thing as evil, just mental illness." Or the variant "Nobody ever deliberately chooses to do evil, they were all just abused as children and can't help it.")
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Date: 2016-04-17 06:55 pm (UTC)It's pretty obvious that people like, say, Jeffrey Dahmer were legit mentally ill. Then you could get an argument going over whether that negates their evil or what.
But what about everyday cruelties? What about the people who lead legally blameless lives and are basically ordinary people who are just not nice? We all know them. They go out of their way to be mean to people, bully the helpless, vote to deprive people of human rights, etc. Mental illness? Really? If they didn't meaningfully choose their homophobic vote and nasty remark, then did the people who made the other choice: who voted for equality and said something kind-- also not have a choice? Are we basically automatons who can only choose in one direction, or we flip into crazy? If so, then we really have no choice at all.
(Have not read this book, but have had this argument MANY times. I should just choose to keep my mouth shut the next time someone says, "There's no such thing as evil, just mental illness." Or the variant "Nobody ever deliberately chooses to do evil, they were all just abused as children and can't help it.")