Video summary
The video features a heated debate at Speakers Corner where an atheist challenges the concept of good and evil by offering £1,000 for anyone who can define these terms as real entities rather than fictional concepts. The central argument presented is that words like "good" and "evil" are merely labels used to manipulate children into lying about their actions to avoid punishment, thereby damaging family relationships. The atheist claims that teaching a child that evil exists creates psychological illness by forcing them to practice deception from a young age until it becomes second nature, whereas acknowledging these concepts as non-existent encourages honesty and better parent-child dynamics.
The discussion quickly devolves into semantic arguments regarding the definitions of health, drugs, and moral categories, with both parties accusing each other of playing word games or speaking out of ignorance. The atheist insists that while negative effects on health can be objectively measured using terms like "bad," subjective labels like "good" and "evil" lack objective reality because they cannot be quantified in the same way physical metrics can. Despite attempts to clarify whether hard drugs are inherently bad for one's health, the conversation circles back to the inability of either side to agree on a concrete definition that satisfies the other, highlighting the subjective nature of moral language versus objective scientific data.
As the argument intensifies, interruptions and overlapping dialogue make it difficult for participants to finish their points without being immediately challenged or corrected by the opposing view. The atheist concludes the encounter by stating there is no point in continuing because he believes his interlocutor is engaging in mind games rather than addressing reality directly. Ultimately, the video ends with a mutual acknowledgment that while both sides hold firm opinions on whether moral absolutes exist, they are fundamentally stuck in a debate over semantics and definitions rather than reaching a shared understanding of truth or falsehood.
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I mean, because you had a sign there. It
says, "Good and evil are not real.
Change my mind, win 1,000 pounds."
>> It's actually more than that, but I just
put it up for the easy thing. But, yeah.
>> Interesting, yeah. When you use these
terms,
>> Mhm.
>> can you define them?
>> No.
>> So, why do you say they are not real
then, if you can't define them?
>> That's why.
>> No, but look, I can define a unicorn.
>> Yeah.
>> And it's not real. At least I can define
what I'm talking about. So, the terms
you're using
>> define those?
>> No, no, but you're using the terms. So,
that's why the onus is on you to tell me
what it is.
>> I'm using only the sound and spelling.
I have no idea what they mean.
>> No, but you said they are not real.
>> Yeah, they exist, but they're not real.
>> Hold on. If something exists, how is
that not real?
>> In fiction.
>> Do you think fiction exists?
>> Yeah.
>> No. The reason it's called fiction is
because it doesn't exist.
>> No, it's reason called fiction is cuz
it's not real. Still exists, cuz it's
there.
>> No. When you say exist, you mean in the
real world?
>> No.
>> imagination?
>> No, I just mean
it exists in both.
>> No, but the thing is, you know, you're
talking about its existence or
nonexistence.
>> I use then?
>> No, no, you can use those terms. I'm not
telling you not to use those terms. But,
I'm asking you, when you're making a
positive claim that they don't exist,
>> Yes.
>> then it's the onus is on you to first
tell me what doesn't exist.
>> Good and evil, the words.
>> And what are they?
>> I don't know. They don't exist.
>> What we
>> My whole point is they don't exist if I
don't know what they are. Does that make
sense to everybody?
>> Okay.
>> Do you If If I said to you, "What's a
huganun?"
A huganun.
>> What's that?
>> Yeah.
>> He just made it up.
>> made it [laughter] up. The same as
they're just I'll tell you what, then
I'll do this one. I got an idea. I think
I know what you're asking me now. I've
just been a little confused. To me, good
and evil are fictional words that have
no meaning whatsoever. They're just
designed to make a child believe that
they either good or bad, so they will
lie to their parents and not tell them
the truth cuz they don't want to get in
trouble, and therefore destroy the
family.
>> Okay, do you believe in good and bad, if
not good and evil?
>> No, I don't
>> You You believe in good and bad, either?
>> I I think they're connotations to and
should be objective words should be used
for coherence. When you use good and
evil, I don't really know
>> a category, you know? Look, there are
obviously within that category. For
example,
>> Negative and positive
>> I'll give you an example.
Uh hard drugs, are they good or bad?
>> No, they're hard drugs.
>> No, but are they good or bad for you?
>> what those words mean. You're using
them, define them.
>> Yeah, yeah. So, hard drugs means uh in
in the sense that they
>> No, no hard drugs are you said are they
good or bad? Define those words.
>> So, when you take cocaine, for example,
is that good for you? Is that bad?
>> You know how you asked me to define
those cuz I used them.
>> Yeah.
>> I did. Now, you're using them. You
define them.
>> No, no, but you So, you asked me to do
it.
>> I'm asking you
>> Okay, so which word do you want me to
define?
>> Good.
>> Good. Okay, in this case,
>> No, just good in in
>> Hold on. In this case, I was asking
about cocaine, which is not good.
>> No, no, no, no, cocaine is just good.
>> It's bad.
>> No, not to me, it's not.
>> Okay, do you know what cocaine is,
right? Okay, when when somebody takes
them, is it good for the health or bad
for the health?
>> If you mean it's a negative for the
health.
>> Bad for the health or good for the
health?
>> It's negative for the health.
>> Good for the health or bad for the
health?
>> I I don't use those words.
>> [laughter]
>> I don't
>> But they're in the vocabulary, then, the
English vocabulary, these words.
>> In the English vocabulary, it means evil
is something that is
>> I didn't use the word evil. I said good
or bad.
Stick to the
>> All right, but
I don't know what they mean.
>> Okay, is there anything bad for your
health?
>> No.
>> So, you
>> ill They are
>> Are you a doctor, by the way? Are you
Are you a doctor?
>> No.
>> How do you know if something is good or
bad for your health?
>> I don't know.
>> So, you could take something that might
be bad for your health, but you are
ignorant about it.
>> know what the word bad means. I don't
know what it means.
>> Oh, I see. So, you don't know what's
good health?
>> Are you sure the doctor know what it
means? No. No one's ever defined it for
me. If I asked you what the word
There you go. If I asked all you guys to
define the word good, would you all come
up with the same definition?
>> It depends in what context.
It depends in which context you talk
about.
>> Ah, then if it's in context, then it's
not objectively real.
>> Okay. You're speaking with ignorance.
>> Well, I think you're the I think have
>> No, no, no. Hold on.
>> I tell you what, right? My I have six
children. I told the first five good and
evil. They wouldn't tell me things when
they did wrong cuz they thought they
were evil or bad, and so they lied to
me. And now I don't have a relationship
with them in the same way. My My sixth
son, I now tell him evil doesn't exist,
but you never know it. You just make
mistakes. Daddy will help you. Now he
doesn't lie to me, and we have a
wonderful relationship.
>> So, do you actually
>> no. Is that a true statement? Does that
happen? I lied to my parents cuz they
told me I was naughty.
And I didn't want to get caught.
>> I believe how we
>> No, no, no. Either that what I said is
true or not.
>> I believe how we can affect what we
believe.
>> I didn't ask that. I said
>> Ho- Hold on.
>> When you were a kid and your parents
told you were naughty.
>> I agree with I agree with him when it's
uh it's uh uh
>> Thank you. There you go.
>> But I'll tell you why. I believe
>> Come here. Come here. So So we can hear
you. Cuz the mics won't pick up what
what are you saying? Okay. You know he
said something about he has no
relationship with his kids because they
lied to him.
>> No, I said I have a poor relationship
with the kids because they don't tell me
the truth. They go here and they don't
>> You You use the term lie.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. Is that good or bad?
>> It's just a lie.
>> Do you What do you
Would you want your kids to lie or would
you not?
>> No, I wouldn't want them to lie.
>> Why?
>> Because it creates incoherence and
creates illnesses.
>> No, no. When you say incoherence means
what? Give an example.
>> It means if they If I want to help them,
but they lie to me, I can't help them.
>> Okay. So
>> Cuz I'll give them the wrong advice.
I'll give them the wrong help because
they didn't trust me because I told them
evil was real and they didn't want to be
seen as evil. So, what we do is we put a
psychological illness in a child. It
tells them, "I've got to lie now." Now,
if you practice lying as a child because
you don't understand, but you do you
told evil for 6 7 years, what does
practice make?
Perfect. So, that child now
>> is very good at lying. Yeah.
>> with good and evil and will constantly
lie to me. But if I tell my child it's
not real, there's only illness
and there's miseducation.
>> No, no, but you tell them not to lie
because you're saying it it makes things
incoherent.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
So, you would tell them not to lie.
Basically, you discourage them to do
that. Okay. Is there anything else you
discourage them other than lying?
>> It's the only thing I need to
discourage.
>> Really? Okay, how about drugs?
Do you encourage or discourage them? You
You understood the term discourage?
>> I would just tell them all about it and
then they make decisions.
>> No, but would you would you actually
discourage them
>> As a
>> about it or not?
Yeah.
Bro, I can't You know the mics won't
pick up anything you're saying. It's
okay, you can come here if you don't
want to be in the camera. So, I just
want your audio to be picked up.
Yeah.
No, no, no, but but hold on. Drugs, you
don't need to be a religious person.
Like this man here, he said he told them
about the drugs.
>> Yeah.
>> What did you tell them exactly?
>> I said drugs have a negative effect on
your psyche, they have negative effect
on reality, and taking them at a certain
point for the incorrect reasons can
damage you. Without education, drugs can
do irreparable damage.
>> Good, which is bad, right?
>> No, it's just that.
>> So, it's all about semantics at the end
of the day for with this gentleman,
unfortunately.
I'll let you speak, let me finish my
point, please. With all due respect.
>> So, you're saying something about me.
>> You can You can respond to that, of
course. I'm not saying
>> Why why say this is not true in the
first place?
>> if it's not true, you you correct it.
Let me finish and then you can correct
me.
>> Why can't Why finish something I've
already told him is not true?
>> I haven't finished my statement. So, you
need to let me finish and then correct
me.
>> Again, the statement is why would you
want to finish something I've already
told you is started untrue? Should you
be not saying
I would like to correct this? I
shouldn't say what I think.
>> No, no, you have your opinion, I have
mine. Let's respect the opinions.
>> You said I, you're talking about my
opinion.
>> I said this is semantics. What are you
What are you saying?
>> Because you semantics
>> You use terms like discourage, he used
terms like incoherent. You know what
he's doing? He's just replacing the
words good and evil, okay, like with
with words with other words from the
dictionary.
>> Okay.
>> Because the Because the term the term
good and evil exists in the dictionary,
just like the term incoherent, something
you discourage, all these things exist.
So, at the end of the day, it is just
semantics.
But anyway, I think I think you have
made Make your mind, so
if you're if you're not if not in good
relationship with six of your children
>> No, I
>> then that must be some real problem.
>> Sorry, when you said good and evil and
he said you can't
>> What What does the term healthy mean?
>> I can't hear you cuz he keeps talking
over you.
>> Yeah, but I think as well listening.
>> Yeah.
>> I do believe
>> I I spoke two words and you interrupted
me earlier.
>> I can't hear what you're saying, buddy.
>> I think you're playing with words.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, I think you're playing with words
because good is playing with
>> It's called semantics.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Another Another word in the Sorry.
>> You know, even saying it goes in a good
thing.
>> Yeah. You know, this
gentleman might have his heart in the
right place, but I don't know why Why
play semantics when you probably mean
the same thing?
>> know Do you know why? Because negative
and positive can be measured. Good and
evil can't.
>> Yeah, but you're To me what it is,
you're you're just finding different
words to use.
>> Yeah, I'm finding Yeah.
>> I think you're speaking out of
ignorance.
>> Hold on. Hold on. When I ask When I ask,
is it bad for your health? That can be
measured. If something is good for your
health or bad bad for your health, it
can be measured. So, what you just said
>> I'll wait until you give me a moment to
>> Yeah. Yeah, sure.
>> I can't speak if you both keep
interrupting me.
>> So, so good and good health and bad
health can can be noticed. It can It's
objective. Can be measured. Maybe
>> Good with it.
>> You don't need to be a doctor in order
to know that.
No, I said good health and bad health
can be measured. Do you agree?
>> No, um health can be measured.
>> Health
>> Yeah.
>> So, what?
>> Good and bad would be the measure.
>> No, no, no. Can the report be
>> Health would be the thing that's
measured.
>> Can Can the report
>> Let me go through it with you then. If
good If you're
>> I I think I'm going to end this
discussion. There's no point, honestly.
>> You know what?
>> What's the opposite of good?
>> Bad.
>> All right. And so, if good is on one
side of the coin and bad is on the other
side of the coin, what's the coin?
>> Something.
>> What?
>> It
>> This is called word games.
>> What I'm saying is
>> It's silly word games.
>> You can't have good without people.
>> When you have your medical report, it
will either be in your favor
which is good or it'll be against you
which is bad. Anyway, I'm I'm going to
end this discussion to us because this
is a semantics at the end of the day.
It's It's not
So, I'm not surprised your your kids
broke up your relationship.
>> No, no.
>> Your own kids are not not in a
relationship. with you because
it's okay. It's mind games. What is he
guys is what happened
>> Thanks guys.
>> If I see you guys, I would never call
any of you evil.
Because you're not.
>> There's no point having this discussion.
>> Do you believe you can be evil?
>> Yeah, exactly. It's semantics. I don't
want to play this mind game.
>> There's no such questions.