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

[Michael Perez]

David A. wrote:
"Does Pointsman think he is evil? Does Blicero? Did Hitler? This is
the danger that IMHO, Pynchon points out through much of the novel.
When we start to believe that there is no inherent good or evil, only
relative grey areas, we can justify anything."

It's not so much that we can "justify anything" as much as
understanding that those who perform actions that I or anyone else
might consider evil are justifiable to THEM.  In the same way, actions
that I may consider good may not be considered such by others.  Are
there universal ethics?  Can we agree on goodness?  It can be a trap,
but can also be a realization that can be very humbling.  The myth of
the fruit of tree of the knowledge of good and evil comes with no
applications instructions.  Yes, this is the danger, but it's one we
cannot escape.  Humans have evolved beyond mere instinct and history
tells the tale in varying degrees of accuracy (including zero). 
Literature provides another sizable set of examples of what we have
done with our consciousness of good and evil.  Blessing or curse, there
it is.


Michael

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