Good and Evil

The nature of good and evil has been the subject of literary exploration since the emergence of civilization on this planet. Prophets, poets, artists, and singers have explored every facet of this theme. Is mankind basically good? Are we basically evil? Or a third possibility, that we are a tabula rosa - a blank slate - waiting to be marked with our good or our evil deeds. Then the greater question arises: Do we cause good and evil, or are they independent forces which compete for our attention?

Many religious philosophers conclude that if evil exists, then good - in the form of God - must also exist. You can't have God without the Devil. Of course not all religions believe this, but it's a common belief, because throughout the sordid history of mankind, it has been far easier to cast our eyes upon the earth...