Unfortunately where I am, I can’t watch the youtube clip. (Restrictions by Sony on copyright grounds, the music I’m sure?)

Conscious choice is at the heart of most morality and ethical systems.

Those who are unable to choose through temporary or permanent impairment, both forms of ignorance, are considered to be morally unaccountable for their choices hence the insanity plea or the question of extenuating circumstances; he was drunk your honour.

If the cats can get a good lawyer then I’m sure they could get off with a warning or be classed as insane.

But this also highlights the impossibility of inter-species moraltiy as the cats don’t ascribe to our tenets of morality; ignorance again. Even those of the same species can have differing ethical systems which have developed in their own particular culture.

Absolute systems tend to work only in those cultures which are isolated. When cultures are no longer isolated watch the sparks fly.

Consider the question of “honour” killings acceptable in one culture, but looked down upon and reviled in others.

This can also be seen in the changing attitudes over time even in one culture.

Consider the subject of duelling with pistols or swords which was thought to be the mark of a gentleman, 18th century, but eventually came to be replaced by the less lethal and more acceptable method for settling disputes by boxing, 19th century, especially in the Victorian school system.

If it came to a prize fight between a mouse and a cat my money would still be on the cat. They fight dirty, they have the weight advantage and they have the better reach.

The only time the mouse could win is if they were to agree on a wrestling bout. With a few Judo moves to turn the cats weight to their disadvantage the mouse might just get lucky.

Enough for now.

P.S. I like cats, I’m just allergic to them just like any mouse.

A cats are ignorant of , and are not interested in, mice in and of themselves. The mice, or whatever else it may be, are only of interest to the cats as they relate to their own needs and desires.

They are not wilfully ignorant they just don’t give a damn which explains the mundane reality of most evil. Do not ascribe to malice what can be easily explained as stupidity.

This may also explain the Google motto: “Don’t be evil.” If you use Google you’ll find out some interesting stuff, your horizons will expand and you may not be so ignorant about your world and those who live in it with you.

Mice of the world rejoice, Google is your saviour!? You just have to teach the cats how to use Google.

Farquar, can you remember where you learned this story? /me’s always curious about such things.

Cat watched all this, hidden, as he was always, for Fox thought him dead. He laughed as Wolf died and knew he had no longer to fear Fox. He would forever deliver Wolf his people to rule, and Fox would forever hate him for it. But not kill him. For without Cat, Wolf could not rule. And so Cat watched, and Cat laughed.

So, I guess based on Ancient knowledge, you could say cats might be evil.

Not that this alters the gist of your story, of course

@Hugo
The quote by Stephan Van Ellewee sums my stance up precisely:

perhaps the universe is the universe.. Not evil or good in any way. And ‘Evil’ is a human construct, rather than something like a natural law?

It proved to be a lot of work to try to “summarise” the discussion, but I still intend to finish the summary and post a follow-up. Like, maybe, in another life perhaps. :-/

Moral relativism is Soooo 1970s…”

Agreed, its also copping out by taking a neutral stance, and instead trying to convince everyone you are smart by ‘exploring’ the intricacies of the subject, without ever really coming to a clear conclusion. You’re trying to offer a unique opinion, without realizing its just about the only opinion on this thread… Anyways

One definition of evil that I’m sure most of you will agree with is as follows:

Derriving pleasure from the agony of others, without being motivated by revenge.

I have 3 cats. Black Female, Calico Male, and White/Grey Female. The First 2 are siblings and the White/Grey one has no sibling.

Story:

The Black cat was sleeping on a couch in a ball. I was sitting at my desk, about 5 feet in front of couch when I noticed the white cat slink up very slowly to the couch with her tail waving in the corner of my eye, then exiting my periphreal vision. I didnt think much of it at that exact moment.

Suspicious, I turned around 30 or so seconds later to see the white cat with her front paws on the couch, staring at the sleeping black cat with her tail still wagging. She then raise her paw, swatted the black cat in the head, and took off running before I could scream at her (which I did anyways). The black cat awoke disoriented for a few seconds, but then shrugged it off and went back to sleep.

Relative morality goes out the window whenever a creature KNOWS theyare causing grief to another. An evolved characteristic? Even flimsier argument since this was not playfulness, self defense, or food acquisition – but pure malice… evil…

Humans are not alone….. cats have consciences, as evidenced by their awareness of wrong doing

evil == vomit. depending on how you translate the word ‘ueble’. the ill meaning of ueble. (i have a better book on this too , tho the name escapes me , i can look that up for u tho. )

the name. *the shock the horror* cat means dog. check the etymology.

Curious what’s your source? I only looked at the etymology on wikipedia, and didn’t find anything suggesting that cat/dog connection…

Ditto for no mention of “vomit” on Wikipedia’s etymology of “evil”…