(March 8, 2021 at 9:39 am)The Grand Nudger Wrote:(March 7, 2021 at 2:50 am)Seax Wrote: Humans that act in ways contrary to what is naturally advantageous, that engage in pathological behavior, can be said to be acting unnaturally, and we are by no means the only species to engage in pathological behavior.
This is evil.
Is it? Let's run with it and see how you feel.
We consider two murders. One is naturally advantageous to the murderer - the victim has something he wants and the crime will produce no adverse consequences. The other is not. It's impulsive and in full view of many witnesses who will punish him severely.
Is the one murder good because it is natural by your description, and the other murder evil because it is not?
Which sense of the word 'good' are you using here? You seem to be emphasizing good in the sense of utility over that of morals.
As a general principle, mens rea is considered to make the offense worse.