GRGR (15): Good & Evil (was Enzian...)

[Michael Perez]

Terrance wrote:
"But in GR we have Blicero, isn't he evil? Not evil in the
white hat black hat of a Pynchon's Progress. But Gottfied is
going to be put in The Rocket 00000, encased in Imipolex
G--a mystery plastic that in GR, consistently represents the
apotheosis of a perverse chemical synthesizing that is not
only unnatural but antinatural and is unequivocally and
inextricably associated with the unhuman, antihuman, indeed
dehumanizing of Humans denying their place as integral
members of Nature. Gottfried, a human person, if he has a
soul or spirit or whatever, he is a human person reduced to
less than the mysterious plastic, as he is at that moment
only part of the 'Subimipolexity.' Isn't it evil to Control
metaphysics and deny a human person their humanity? Isn't it
evil what the germans have done to the Herero? Isn't Dora
evil? Can't we say that, despite the apparent futility of
Roger's Love, that Pointy's part in destroying that
possibility is evil? Can we also say that the fact that
Roger recognizes that the War is a business that is all
about reducing humans to workers for the Machine economy at
least offers the possibility that Love is Good?"

Most people would agree that Blicero is evil, but, as Kai points out,
he and Gottfried truly loved each other.  So, not TOTALLY evil, I
suppose, though I don't necessarily want add questions of degree to the
discussion of moral designations.  Can one really control metaphysics? 
If one could do that I suppose it could be evil, but in whose service
could it (or not) be justifiable?  Dora was certainly evil, but there
was those (also, I believe, evil) who thought it was necessary to their
cause.  Pointy COULD be a better friend to Roger than we allow him to
be for sparing Roger any future misery by ridding him of any illusions
of true love (I don't really believe this, but it could be said by
someone, I suppose).  Roger recognizes that war is a business, but then
continues to work to "expedite surrender" (of whoever).  Isn't this
evil?  Since by working for the war, he is working for BOTH sides,
since the Business (the Firm, the Cartel, whatever) shows no moral or
national loyalty.  While love is good for most, it isn't always, is it?
Weren't the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki evil?  Wasn't the
bombing of Dresden evil?  These were justified by many, considered
unnecessarily evil excess by others.  It's not that we can't recognize
evil when we see it, but one person's evil is another's good.  Don't
make me drag out G.E. Moore.

Michael

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com