Evil Atheists

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Sociopath has already been defined. A person with a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior and a lack of conscience.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_...y_disorder

It isn't "simply a label created in modern times". It is a clinical diagnosis given to an individual who meets the requirements. Individuals like this existed prior to any test we currently administer to determine eligibility.

Although I agree in this example,I think one needs to take care with the term 'clinical diagnosis' it can actually be a tautology. It's an aphorisim in psychology that the more 'severe' patients have no insight into their condition.Hence to reject a diagnosis reinforces it.


Some of the problems with professional labeling were examined in some depth by Erving Goffman, in his two seminal works 'Stigma' and "Asylum" (still in print I think, or at least available at any good library)


Moral truth?

Is there such a thing? Subjectively, via argument from authority,of course,it's the basis of religious morality.


As an objective reality? I don't believe so: I have yet to find a single, absolute, universal imperative. I don't mean I lack a moral compass, only that I do not insist others share my values. I recognise no external moral authority, secular or transcendent. My position is that morality is pragmatic (ethical egoism) existing only because it has a survival value.That is why morality varies so much (even within our own society) depending on circumstances.