Evil in Civilizations

The Evil of Civilizations is a continuation of the article The Double Concept of Good and Evil

Evil in civilizations begins with the belief in false ideas, in those who act motivated by selfishness and pride, prioritizing their own interests. When many individuals adopt this mentality, it transforms into a collective malaise. The mistaken view of this false idea permeates social relations. This problem is exacerbated when leaders, religions, philosophies, and sciences propagate this false mentality, influencing and shaping the entire culture.

The first is summed up in these words of Christ: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' In short, it applies without exception to all social relations. We must agree that if all members of a society acted in accordance with this principle, there would be fewer disappointments in life. As soon as two people are together, they thereby contract reciprocal duties; if they wish to live in peace, they will be obliged to make mutual concessions. These duties increase with the number of individuals; agglomerations form a collective whole that also has its respective obligations. You therefore have, in addition to the relations between individual and individual, those between city and city, between country and country. These relations can have two motives that negate each other: selfishness and charity, since there is also national selfishness.

Allan Kardec, Spiritist Journey, 1862

There is selfishness in science, in religion. Everywhere there is the false idea.

With selfishness, self-interest prevails; each person lives for themselves, seeing others as merely an antagonist, a rival who can compete with us, whom we can exploit, or who can exploit us; someone who will do everything possible to get there before us: victory goes to the smartest, and society—sad to say—often consecrates this victory, which divides it into two main classes: the exploiters and the exploited. This results in a perpetual antagonism that makes life a torment, a veritable hell.
Replace selfishness with charity, and everything will change; no one will seek to harm their neighbor; hatred and jealousy will die out for lack of fuel, and men will live in peace, helping one another instead of tearing each other apart. If charity replaces selfishness, all social institutions will be founded on the principle of solidarity [cooperation] and reciprocity [mutual support]; the strong will protect the weak, instead of exploiting them.

Idem

If the individual considers the other weak, he will exploit him.

If the individual considers the other strong, he becomes an adversary to be fought. The change lies in what the individual chooses to do.

This article was prepared based on a lecture given by Paulo Henrique de Figueiredo. Click here to meet her.