Ethics

Good & Evil

from GalCiv2 Forums
After a long, tedious, but ultimately successful ideological war as the Drengin, I was inevitably faced with the question, why are they evil? Why is the universe prone to evil, and is it good or bad? Because Drengin and Torians are made up, (if this is a shock to you, please consider at least looking outside) our only real knowledge of good and evil comes from our own race.
First most is the age-old question, are zebras white with black stripes or black with white stripes: Are humans good people sometimes power hungry and evil, or just evil striving to try to be good? Looking at our broken world, it would be challenging to say we are a ‘good’ civilization. But one must look deeper, and when you do, can you find good in them? We always, with a few foreign exceptions, elect leaders that fight for what we believe is good. (Please no Bush-bashing right now.) We claim to fight evil, but what is that evil? Terrorists? That would make terrorists evil, and labeling part of a species evil makes a mark on the entire race. Terrorists do not try to be what they think is evil. Their religion, radical Islam, teaches them to do this, and they believe they are the only good citizens of the world. Although I am no real Star Wars fan, one line from Episode III stuck in my mind, "Good is a point of view." I am not saying this is true, but would ponder the truth in it. There are different outlooks on morality, by nature opposite. Is it all so relative? I would like to think not. No one in their right mind can say that suicide bombing innocent citizens is good. Does that set terrorists apart, twisted and isolated in their own sense? You cannot deny they think they are good, so does that make them good? Does thinking you are good make you good? People naturally do not want to think of themselves as evil. There is something noble to us in being good. Does that mean two ‘good’ civilizations could be at war over ethics? Ultimately, is there any one scale of good in evil?
To contradict myself, I have noticed that sometimes, when playing games in which good and evil are involved, my brother will often take the evil side because they are evil. While he usually does cheer for the team that nobody wants, I noticed the same thing in many of his friends. On a deeper meaning, are people attracted to power? If the maxim is correct, that power corrupts, is this the reason there is bad in this world? In their souls, do people realize they are actually evil, or are they good and we evil. To complicate things, I do not even think that we as humans have the right to judge right and wrong in so many cases.
It is at this point where I wonder about other civilizations. Are some good and others evil? I would doubt that. What are the chances of them being entirely good? Likely, we will never become all good, or all evil. How would we ever rid of evil, and there will always be the heroes who fight for good. I do not think other civilizations will be that different from us, or have a much different morality. That is assuming they too would rather be good, as in our society, where evil is frowned upon, but ever present.
If you look at our race, I do not believe it depends on the race to determine if you are good or evil. It swings much more on culture, leaders, and religion. Every person is different in humans, and to some extent, this must be true for other civilizations.
Until we meet others, or destroy ourselves before then, we will never really know if we were good or bad, but that does not make it wrong to speculate.
off-topic
10,549 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Good and evil are in the eyes of the beholder. But if you look beyond self perception and toward outside actions you’ll see what the GC2 game designers are looking for – deferring something that would benefit you for the benefit of someone (or something) else. That is their Big Picture definition of good, and it is an interesting one.

So while roasted Torian baby livers as an aphrodisiac might be a novel Drengin cultural phenomenon, it is unlikely to be viewed favorably by the Torians. Most races might view consuming another sentient race as less than enlightened, as far as good and evil go that is. Might that be a virtue? To other evil races, perhaps, but then they might be a tad worried that their babies may be next on the menu. There we see how outside perceptions might impact what are good and evil.

The conflict between good and evil is pretty interesting, as well as the inter-relationships of good (cooperation, alliance) and evil (alliance of convenience, blood makes grass grow). That dynamic shows up nicely in GC2.

Hydro

BTW – you may want to separates your paragraphs a bit more. When they all flow together they are pretty hard to read.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Does it make much difference?

All it really defines in the game is a common ground between races. Those of the same alignment share the same or similar values. It doesn't matter if you call it good, evil or likes strawberry jam. Whether the race is good or evil depends on the viewpoint or culture of the observer - Good races may see each other as such, but to a neutral their societies may seem over controlled, possibly even fascist.
While we can't say for sure that what we consider to be good or evil would hold true for a different culture, let alone a race, the one universal we do know is that cultures which hold common values tend to get along better than those which have little in common, or opposing values. It's easier to understand a culture which holds similar ideals, and in diplomatic terms it's a lot easier to offend a culture which is totally different to your own. The game models this quite well.

The only problem I see, as I've said before, is that the choice basically comes down to how much you want to lose out or benefit from an event rather than an actual choice. This is mainly due to the game mechanics though - there's no incentive not to take the most beneficial choice, then switch to your desired alignment by researching Xeno Ethics.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Please put some paragraphs in your post, it much makes it easier to read.   

But on the good/evil thing, you can't stereotype a race as being good or evil. It's the individuals.
For example:
You could be a stormtrooper in Starwars. While you may work for an evil empire, you and your stormbuddies are not necessarily evil.

I personally thought the empire was cool. For these reasons: I don't believe Democracy will work. The only way to rule the human race is through dictator ship. Before I look like a evil *astard, let me explain. When people are afraid, they will follow the law. People are always drinking and driving. In democracy you fine that person and/or put them in jail; and possibly take their liscense. That doesn't always work as he usually get a slap on thw wrist and goes out drinking and driving again(rinse and repeat).

In a Dictatorship, when that person is caught...is a totally different story. He could get let go if on the first offense for drinking in the car But if he does it a second time he could get his finger chopped off, or a savage beating, or some means of torture. If you were that drunk guy, would you want to drink again while in the car? By god, I know I wouldn't.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The ENTER key is your friend, and mine. Makes people more likely to read your whole post.

Spaces help too.


It's a game. I like the concept and I think it adds to the role-play aspect.

Power players will simple pick what will win the game, so they rarely pick GOOD.

People have written; "If the Altarians are "good", why did they declare war on me???????"
Just like in The Crusades, they thought they were doing it for their faith. God was on THEIR side, not the OTHER religious fanatics who beleived the same for themselves.

Maybe instead of calling them "good", "neutral", or "evil", you should call them "Ideology 1", Ideology 2", and "Idology 3".