Can animals be considered evil?

Question

Or is this merely a human construct? Can you cite an instance of evil in nature, unrelated to the human condition?

Answer 1

My cat is only evil because I send him to do evil, and he seems to enjoy it. bwhaha!

Answer 2

Animals are amoral, the concept of evil is only applicable in the human realm.

Answer 3

Tasmanian Devils, that would be your perfect pet mutts, I watched a documentary and they even try and kill each other after s*x.

Answer 4

Their only evil when they stalk you and sneak into your house at night so they can sniff you shoes.

Answer 5

Animals become 'evil' because of humans.  Look at all the poor dogs that only attack humans because their owners beat them, and all the crocodiles who are fed by humans and therefore always expect food from them (which causes crocodiles to attack people thinking they have food).

Answer 6

id say they can.

if you use The Bible as a source, the serpent that offered eve the apple was "evil"  

Answer 7

Well, there are some animals that kill and don't eat their kill. I guess you could consider that evil.

And my fish is a jerk...he eats other fish, and he's just a goldfish! He ate both of the snails (large ones) that we put in the tank. That's pretty cruel if you ask me!

Answer 8

Dear lady, in view of your sublime taste in films, this is a strange question.  Have you forgotten the rats and wolves in Coppola's "Dracula" or the great white in "Jaws"?  If those beasties aren't evil, they'll do till something evil comes along.

Answer 9

No... and technically humans are only evil because they break "rules" that society has created that are considered "right", "good", etc.

Nature has no RULES, therefore, there is nothing to "follow", "break" or "rebel" against.

Anyone who deviates from the rules set by society are called bad names.

Answer 10

I think it's a human concept, probably stemming from religion. Animals may do things that we'd consider "evil" if committed by a human, but everything an animal does is for survival. Evil acts by humans are usually committed out of anger, spite or hatred, with the intention of hurting another person or for material gain. I think motives matter more than acts themselves.  

Answer 11

I think evil is learned, therefore humans have that market. Everything I've read about murderers and such have some sort of thing happen in their childhood that caused them to either hate or suffer severe mental illness. Some are the exception, with simply being unable to empathize or having any real conscious to the needs of their fellow man.

I think animals use what they have as a means of survival, therefore it is primal instinct that keeps their species from extinction.

Answer 12

Agreed with brother Mike T.  I would only add that humans are indeed scientifically classed as animals.  We build houses so that we can be free and sheltered from the amorality of nature. That's the only difference between us and them.

Answer 13

humans are pure evil, animals deserve the utmost respect!

Answer 14

yes of course they can, Chimps are known to murder and rape. in fact Rape is very common in nature.

Or it could just be that Humans are considered evil when they act like animals.

Answer 15

"evil" as a concept is a human construct. We ascribe "evil" to traits we have established as being 'undesirable'. If we were to apply our human standards to animals, we would indeed consider them 'evil', as animals steal from one another (food, territory, mates) some animals are known to commit infantcide (lions being a prime example) some are known to torture (cats 'toy' with their prey before killing it)

However, it is wrong to ascribe our moral code to animals. The difference between us and them is that we are self aware, and can control our actions and urges. Animals act purely on instinct.

Answer 16

I have knowns some pretty evil cats

Answer 17

I tend to give animals the benefit of the doubt and assume any harm they inflict is for the sake of eating, breeding protection of territory and such.

So no, I can't really think of an instance in nature that doesn't have some purpose.

Humans will P***k you up just because they don't like you or even worse , some just get off inflicting harm.

Answer 18

evil doesnt exist in nature, purely man made, a religious concept maybe

Answer 19

They say animals are exempt from such things as they do not have a conscience.

They live as you will by instinct not because they want to make anyone happy or sad but because they want what they want and fear no consequence.

Answer 20

There are moments when I think so, like when I step into some p**p.

Answer 21

Animals act out of instinct, so they don't have any evil intentions.  Humans have developed superstitions about some animals, such as black cats and snakes.  

Answer 22

squirrels and cats are evil.

Answer 23

Evil doesn't exist period.  Actions break down into acceptable by society, unacceptable by society and unthinkable by the standards of society.  Evil is how we rationalize the unthinkable.