Fear, the root of all evil.

[DeadSpace]

Yes, not money, not power, not the seven deadly sins...but Fear. It can be a subtle or gross emotion.

Irrational fear. unfounded, unbased, unsustantiated by reality. (added types of thanks to vaguely dissatisfied.)

Fear of being poor can cause greed, theft, and that drive some have to squash everything for the sake of money. <~~'Everyone does it...nothing wrong with getting ahead.'

Fear of being weak, or seen as weak can cause cruelty, coldness, extreme loner mentality<~~ never accepting help no matter how dire the circumstances. Seeing any offered help as a sign you're incomptetent/incapable in some fashion.

Fear of being hurt, emotionally or mentally is one of the most subtle, leads to being alone in it's final solution, trusting no one. Suspicious of everyone and their motives. <~~one of the most rationalised fears.

Fear of being alone, can lead to relationships, and/or a lifestyle that could be completely loveless...based entirely upon not being alone.

Fear of being a social outcast, leads to becoming someone you're not...stressfull, and ultimately destructive. This one ties into Fear of being alone as well. "Everyone should be married...' ' if you're single...somethings wrong with you' Doing things simply to fit in...not for your own sake.

Fear of being controlled by someone else...that's an ugly one as well, similiar to fear of being hurt, and fear of being weak.

Just a few, variations of the actions/reactions fear can cause...behavior(s) it can induce are nearly limitless. It is one of the most rationalised, self justified emotions. Easy to let in...nearly impossible to remove once it's found a home. Influences or controls reactions, thoughts, and emotions in all ways relating to the fear(s) in question. Controls lifestyle, social activities, and relationships. Controls the mind...the rational mind at that...to make excuses for it.
To me...it is truly the root of all evil...watched people do the stupidest, most self destructive things imaginable because of fear. Seen it destroy relationships, lives, families. It can change someones entire personality in the blink of an eye. Someone who lives in any type of fear...becomes someone predictable...their fears control their lives.

Any more fears to add?
Do you let fear control you?
How do you deal with your fear(s)? <~~credit to: Homini Lupus
Agree/disagree?

Edit: missed one...several actually, but this one applies to INTJ's and others. As targets of the following.
Fear of the strange or unusual, people that do not conform or are different in some fashion. <~~leads to prejudice, ostrasization, violence, etc.

[Homini Lupus]

Maybe fear is the root of all evil, but it's also the basis of survival.
Fear of famine leads to thinking creative solutions to survive.
Fear of violent death leads to societies (wich may be necessary evil)
Fear of plagues lead to sanitation.
I guess you could go on endlessly listing both detrimental and creative effects of fear.

I think the key is not fear, but how we deal with it.

[DeadSpace]

Maybe fear is the root of all evil, but it's also the basis of survival.
Fear of famine leads to thinking creative solutions to survive.
Fear of violent death leads to societies (wich may be necessary evil)
Fear of plagues lead to sanitation.
I guess you could go on endlessly listing both detrimental and creative effects of fear.

I think the key is not fear, but how we deal with it.
*unashamedly steals that and turns it into a question. ;D *
good points
Those fears also have a practical basis...things that are needed without fear being a factor >.> they make sense even in a completely logical way, without fear being involved as a motivator.

[vaguely dissatisfied]

Perhaps it's out-of-proportion fear that is the root of all evil?

[DeadSpace]

How do you determine if a fear is out of proportion though? Especially if a fear is allowed to take root...after that the fear will always seem rational...there will always be reasons for it. Self preservation/survival, a base human instinct...makes you listen to a fear...determining if it's valid or not takes logical thought. The darkness illuminated by the light of reason.

[jamescwade2]

Perhaps a fear is out of proportion when you no longer make excuses for it ("I have always been this way" - whether or not that is true) When you openly flaunt the fear regardless fo what others might think or say...

When a fear is under control (so to speak) it is not out of proprtion???
When you allow the fear to reign supreme, it is out of proportion...

[vaguely dissatisfied]

Phobias. I believe these are out-of-proportion fears.

[DeadSpace]

A controlled fear would not be out of proportion...it's something you have control over...uncontrolled fear is something that has control over you. Perhaps the wrong place for this topic...intj's seen less inclined to allow fear to rule them, their actions, or their thinking. It is something i've seen throughout my life though...people who live in and are controlled by various fears. How they defend those fears, how their judgement, viewpoints, even the way they think is based around a fear.
The reasons they have...never hold up to exterior logic >.> , has no basis in reality, yet they will grasp with all their strength to hold onto that fear rather than banish it. Even to the point of creating circumstances that justify that fear. Puzzling to me, incredibly so.
Fear of intimacy, among men and women...pretty easy one to spot in people you know, always distant, push/pull type relationships. Fear of being alone...constantly seeking relationships, or surrounded with friends. Whether good, bad, or indifferent doesn't matter as long as there's someone there.

[Haphazard]

intj's seen less inclined to allow fear to rule them, their actions, or their thinking.

I would say this is untrue.

Sometimes even if you know the fear is irrational it still happens. And it's likely worse because along with the fear is the frustration that it's there and that it doesn't make any sense to be there.

[Jgib5328]

I disagree, fear may cause a manifold of bad things to happen, but it isn't the root of all evil, that's a gross generalization. There is no one root of evil, there are many roots that can be combined to form evil.

Sometimes fear controls me, mostly for midterms. What I fear more than anything is failure. When midterms come up, I feel like I have to study and study, because I'm afraid of failure.

Whenever I fear failure, I am forced to go into overdrive to prevent failure. When I fear that I may do poorly on a test, I study even more, and the extra studying is usually unnecessary. I try to deal with this fear by thinking rationally and that can help.

[DeadSpace]

I disagree, fear may cause a manifold of bad things to happen, but it isn't the root of all evil, that's a gross generalization. There is no one root of evil, there are many roots that can be combined to form evil.

Sometimes fear controls me, mostly for midterms. What I fear more than anything is failure. When midterms come up, I feel like I have to study and study, because I'm afraid of failure.

Whenever I fear failure, I am forced to go into overdrive to prevent failure. When I fear that I may do poorly on a test, I study even more, and the extra studying is usually unnecessary. I try to deal with this fear by thinking rationally and that can help.

The topic title = dramatic license...
There are many roots...fear being a major motivator among them, Fear of failure you mentioned in your post, stresses you, pushes you to study harder. That same fear can and does drive others to extremes, to achieve success at any cost. And can cause despair that they can never succeed. Ties into other fears, of being wrong, making mistakes.

[Jgib5328]

Fear can lead you to do bad things, but it doesn't always. I'd say my hatred has caused me to become more 'evil' than my fear. My fear just pushes me to take myself to new extremes and work harder. It only affects me, nobody else.

[SeaCzar]

Interesting topic.

I take a pretty rational view to most everything. I do not fear being poor. I work hard to have a decent life, but not to the point of screwing/shitting upon every one else to get to the top (always remember, don't slap the elevator boy on the way up). As far as help goes, if I need it, I have no problem asking for it (this is really rare; I am an only child, and am used to being independent and proficient on my own).

Relationships & trust. This is another story. I have no fear of being hurt, emotionally or mentally. Trust is different for me than it is for most. There are few people in my life that I trust. That said, it is not that I distrust everyone else. Its just that I would not easily (at risk of understatement) trust someone if I had no reason to do so. This may be why I do not have a huge ring of friends (being misanthropic does not help either). I honestly believe that you had better have a pretty God damned good reason to trust someone, and you had better be right. I'd really like others' thoughts on this.

The one phobia I have is that I am claustrophobic (have been since childhood, and its only gotten worse). I attribute this to the only child thing, but I can't be sure that has anything to do with it. As stated previously in this thread, it pisses me off more than anything else because it does not make sense. Lately, its only an issue when I have to fly. Even if I can get into First Class, a handful of Xanax washed down with a couple of martinis does the trick. If this is not an option (I occasionally fly for business), I'll grin (read: grit teeth) and bear it for a few (very miserable) hours.

[Haphazard]

The one phobia I have is that I am claustrophobic (have been since childhood, and its only gotten worse). I attribute this to the only child thing, but I can't be sure that has anything to do with it. As stated previously in this thread, it pisses me off more than anything else because it does not make sense. Lately, its only an issue when I have to fly. Even if I can get into First Class, a handful of Xanax washed down with a couple of martinis does the trick. If this is not an option (I occasionally fly for business), I'll grin (read: grit teeth) and bear it for a few (very miserable) hours.

Exactly. I have a lot of anxiety problems, and I just don't understand it. Blood does it, also people yelling tends to throw me into a panic. And I can't figure out why. I can think of a few incidents that would have contributed to a blood phobia, but other than that compounded with a genetic predisposition, it doesn't make any sense. The angry yelling makes even less sense because I've never been abused or anything.

But, I think the original poster was talking less about phobias and more about other kinds of fears?

[DeadSpace]

Irrational fears, unfounded fears, fears that have little to do with reality. Created fears, etc. ones that can cause distress, anguish, turmoil, etc, yet have little real reason to exist when dissected. Phobias fit in there ;)

[Haphazard]

Irrational fears, unfounded fears, fears that have little to do with reality. Created fears, etc. ones that can cause distress, anguish, turmoil, etc, yet have little real reason to exist when dissected. Phobias fit in there ;)

So, are phobias evil? Even when there's little control over them?

I'd say that inaction is the root of all evil, not fear. I guess inaction stop yourself or come to your senses when it comes to fear would be evil in the cases you specified, but the fear itself isn't 'evil.'

[DeadSpace]

So, are phobias evil? Even when there's little control over them?

I'd say that inaction is the root of all evil, not fear. I guess inaction stop yourself or come to your senses when it comes to fear would be evil in the cases you specified, but the fear itself isn't 'evil.'

An irrational fear that you can't control...is a good thing?
Fear as a root cause, fear in and of itself isn't evil...but it is a root cause of distress, paranoia, pain, suffering, anguish, loneliness, apathy...the list goes on. An irrational fear is even worse, something you can't control...that controls you, if that is something to be desired...

[Haphazard]

An irrational fear that you can't control...is a good thing?
Fear as a root cause, fear in and of itself isn't evil...but it is a root cause of distress, paranoia, pain, suffering, anguish, loneliness, apathy...the list goes on. An irrational fear is even worse, something you can't control...that controls you, if that is something to be desired...

It's not a good thing, but it's certainly not evil. It causes pain and distress, but it's not evil. It's just there. It's the lack of willpower to try to help yourself to recognize what the fear is and stop it that is evil.

[DeadSpace]

It's not a good thing, but it's certainly not evil. It causes pain and distress, but it's not evil. It's just there. It's the lack of willpower to try to help yourself to recognize what the fear is and stop it that is evil.

And that therein lies the rub, giving in to the fear. 'root of evil' not evil in and of itself, how you handle it determines it's effects on your life...give in to it...and it becomes a destroyer...fight it, and it becomes nothing. What you choose will determine it's effects...and whether it is something evil in your life...or something that simply doesn't affect you.
I have had phobias, a completely irrational one, claustrophobia, and one that did have a basis, aquaphobia, fear of drowning. Claustrophobia was the worst, no reason for it, made me frustrated and angry beyond belief. Think that's what finally killed it. Aquaphobia, was from my childhood...if i stopped swimming...i sank like a stone (very low body fat) Living in florida didn't help that >.>. Took time for both, of the two...fear of drowning was easier to deal with it had a reason. Claustrophobia...think i just got fed up with it.

[vaguely dissatisfied]

So now we probably should define evil and 'the root of evil'.

[Santana28]

Maybe fear is the root of all evil, but it's also the basis of survival.
Fear of famine leads to thinking creative solutions to survive.
Fear of violent death leads to societies (wich may be necessary evil)
Fear of plagues lead to sanitation.
I guess you could go on endlessly listing both detrimental and creative effects of fear.

I think the key is not fear, but how we deal with it.

i disagree with you. i do not "fear" these things you mention - i see a problem, and a challenge - and i am inspired and impassioned to solve them. I think it is man's natural state of being to strive for something greater than itself.

"Fear" paralyzes action - it does not spur action, unless you are running in the opposite direction.

I would be very offended by anyone who attributed my courageous actions to fear.

[vaguely dissatisfied]

i disagree with you. i do not "fear" these things you mention - i see a problem, and a challenge - and i am inspired and impassioned to solve them. I think it is man's natural state of being to strive for something greater than itself.

"Fear" paralyzes action - it does not spur action, unless you are running in the opposite direction.

I would be very offended by anyone who attributed my courageous actions to fear.
I actually consider myself to be quite a fearful person (mostly social situations). However, I have decided (for the most part) not to allow these fears to run my life. This has meant that I have had to act courageously many times in my life due to my fears. People could absolutely attribute my courage to fear and be dead right. To me, courage is overcoming fear to face the challenge. This is courage or bravery. In my estimation, people who act without fear are not courageous or brave, but fearless. Although these are my own definitions and so I'm not saying this is what the words mean.....only what they mean to me.

[Motor Jax]

Fear is a necessary

in Fear, it introduces the Fight-or-Flight response, a basic instinct in all of us

it heightens the adrenaline which thins out the blood stream, and makes us act on impulse

but i am only talking about the basic instinct of Fear




what seems to have sparked the beginning of this thread is that people are afraid of doing without something they are afraid of losing

so, it's not really Fear. i would call it Scared and unable to come to terms with themselves

or maybe just weak-willed

you know, by nature we don't really need these things we have gotten so accustomed to have. its just people like to be pampered

[vaguely dissatisfied]

Fear is a necessary

in Fear, it introduces the Fight-or-Flight response, a basic instinct in all of us

it heightens the adrenaline which thins out the blood stream, and makes us act on impulse

but i am only talking about the basic instinct of Fear




what seems to have sparked the beginning of this thread is that people are afraid of doing without something they are afraid of losing

so, it's not really Fear. i would call it Scared and unable to come to terms with themselves

or maybe just weak-willed

you know, by nature we don't really need these things we have gotten so accustomed to have. its just people like to be pampered
Or perhaps it is the fact that people's identities are tied to these things? If they lose the 'things' then who are they?

[Motor Jax]

yeah, that's true too

[Santana28]

I actually consider myself to be quite a fearful person (mostly social situations). However, I have decided (for the most part) not to allow these fears to run my life. This has meant that I have had to act courageously many times in my life due to my fears. People could absolutely attribute my courage to fear and be dead right. To me, courage is overcoming fear to face the challenge. This is courage or bravery. In my estimation, people who act without fear are not courageous or brave, but fearless. Although these are my own definitions and so I'm not saying this is what the words mean.....only what they mean to me.

i understand that... but just because something inspires fear in you, and that "fight or flight" response - how can you attribute any courageous acts or constructive acts to fear?? fear, is a suspension of thought and reason to blind emotion. i may have the "knowledge" that something "bad" will happen if i dont follow Course A instead of Course B, but that is a rational decision weighing the pros and cons. If I follow Course B it is because fear and emotional response has outweighed my rational judgement. If I follow Course A it is because i have deduced that i will have the better (perhaps less painful or stressful) outcome and rationally that is the better option to me.

Now I know i put an ungodly amount of thought into every action i take, even split-second reactions. But if i have to make a split second decision, and it happens to be the better choice - i think that is coincidence, not courage. And i think choosing to do things which may be more emotionally stressful/fearful/dangerous etc... purposefully may not necessarily be as courageous as the will to stick to your principles and not abandon them in times of stress, which "courageous" actions surely represent more than any super-human heroic feats of fear-wrangling (or even just simple human interaction when you are terrified of talking to people.

But to get back to point, i agree 100% that the root of all evil is Fear. and my personal definition of fear is : defying logic for emotion, stasis, destructive emotional responses, and anything which causes you to sacrifice your core value or principles for something else. Theres not many things i hate - but i hate fear. I could never attribute anything positive to fear, because fear is the very definition of the negative to me.

[DeadSpace]

Or perhaps it is the fact that people's identities are tied to these things? If they lose the 'things' then who are they?

A self identity tied to fears? Why would someone want to stay that way? Not mocking...i just see that as something incredibly detrimental, fears grow...paralyze, soon making an individual incapable of acting at cross purposes to those fears. Finding reasons to avoid people and situations that express that fear. Rationalizations, rejection, excuses, avoidance. behavior wrapped around fear, dictated by it. Thoughts and emotions ruled and guided by fear. The sheer amount of energy to support fear, keep it active...is staggering.
One would have to spend a great deal of time lying to themselves about why they do or don't do things, why they avoid...why it's better to not do this thing. Not to mention...finding reasons for others in their lives why they are not doing this or that...or just cutting out others all together. I can't see any positives holding on to a fear :\ or fears. They cripple the mind, and sooner or later...the life. Self ends up revolving around the fear, a circular, dead end path. Stagnate.
Edit: because i continue thinking :p

I know, and have known people who are ruled by fear(s). They are predictable, they will do nothing not dictated by their fear. Most will not even acknowledge that fear exists...yet will never do anything at cross purposes to it. There's always other reasons for the behavior >.> or it's someone elses fault. It is the touchiest subject whenever anyones approached me for advice. Perhaps because it's percieved as a weakness, not as a condition that needs to be challenged and overcome. They cater to it, feed it, find reasons for it to be a proper feeling. Justified.
I've hated any fears in me, banished them as soon as they were recognised and i was able. Personally...i do not want anything to control me, guide me, or dictate my actions. Especially when that something is irrational at it's root. Something that has no basis in reality, reality can be challenging enough...without adding speed bumps of fear to it.

[Haphazard]

Courage includes fear but going through with an action anyway. Without the fear present, it's not courage, is it? It's simply an action, no courage attached.

To completely get rid of all fear in hopes of getting rid of evil would be ridiculous. Fear is definitely something that needs to be coped with. Reacting to fears in a negative way may be evil, true, in a selfish manner to try to get rid of the fears, but fear needs to be experienced to gain wisdom. Fear is animal while courage is human.

[DeadSpace]

Courage includes fear but going through with an action anyway. Without the fear present, it's not courage, is it? It's simply an action, no courage attached.

To completely get rid of all fear in hopes of getting rid of evil would be ridiculous. Fear is definitely something that needs to be coped with. Reacting to fears in a negative way may be evil, true, in a selfish manner to try to get rid of the fears, but fear needs to be experienced to gain wisdom. Fear is animal while courage is human.

Heh, i've always seen courage as just doing what needs to be done, no connotations that it's even an emotion, or opposite of fear. Doing what needs done is just responsibility and capability combined with action. Fear doesn't enter in to it...i may have a skewed viewpoint though.:blank:

And yes...overcoming fear does lead to wisdom, better understanding of yourself, and makes you much tougher mentally. Wholly agree with that.

[foroneonly]

I think fear is a natural human reaction based on instinct much like anger or sadness. For that reason I don't believe that the pure existance of this emotion make one able to define it as the root of all evil. However, I feel that fear is inextricably connected to happiness and contentment. If fear controls our actions are you a truly happy person? So could control of our actions by fear be the/or a root of some evil?

With regards to identity, should it be defined by your circumstances or whom you are as a human being? Your internal charactar and desires and wants. If the example of being a relationship out of fear being alone or because you feel that being single is indicative of failure on your part. Thus you are being controlled by fear. But the fear itself is not the root of the evil.

[sriv]

Fear protects us from many evils and it is this overprotection that leads to many other evils.

I put "and" instead of "but" for the purpose of not nullifying the importance of the first clause.

[mkay]

Even if I can get into First Class, a handful of Xanax washed down with a couple of martinis does the trick. If this is not an option (I occasionally fly for business), I'll grin (read: grit teeth) and bear it for a few (very miserable) hours.

Please be careful with Xanax and booze. I thought it might be a bad combo, did a quick Google search and read this:

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[Beery Swine]

The cruelst joke yet perpetrated on a creature: giving it knowledge that at some point in the future it will no longer exist. The biggest fear. The only fear. Evolution is a terrifyingly emotionless process.

Yeah, fear: the root of all evil.