PODCAST

In this podcast episode, the host Yusuf is joined by Adele Conley, a biology student. They discuss the topic of whether humans are born evil. Adele believes that individuals are shaped by their circumstances and are not inherently evil, while Yusuf disagrees and thinks some people are born evil. They discuss the definition of evil and talk about a study that suggests people are less likely to commit crimes if legal alternatives are available. They also discuss piracy and its impact, with Adele arguing that it is not necessarily an evil crime. They explore the idea of nature versus nurture and conclude that while individuals may have predispositions, their environment plays a significant role in shaping their behavior. The episode ends with a thank you to Adele and the audience. Welcome to the real and totally not fake podcast. This is your host Yusuf and today I am joined by the lovely Adele Conley. Hello. Adele is a genius in the field of biology, humans, medicine, and all things science. She's a second year at Appalachia State University where she is majoring in cell and molecular biology. She wants to go to med school one day and she could potentially end up saving your life. It's a pleasure to be here. I'm sure it is. Today we'll be going over a heavily debated topic. A topic that is so in-depth that it could take us hours to discuss it all. But we'll only be spending three to five minutes on it today. That is correct. Now what is this mysterious topic? I'm glad you asked. The topic is drumroll please. Are humans born evil? Wow. If I'm right, you believe humans are not born evil. That is true. I think each individual is made up by their circumstances. Wow. Isn't that something? I disagree. Some people are simply born evil and there's nothing that can be done to change that. First we must define what evil is. Well to me evil is committing acts knowing that it causes harm to others. I agree with that and let's keep it in mind that it's an action that must be committed with intent to cause harm. Yes, yes. Now why do you believe that humans are in fact not born evil? Well for starters, a study done on human behavior titled Original Selfishness has concluded that people are less likely to commit a crime if a legal and easier option is available. The crime of piracy can be seen as evil and is rampant throughout our society. Yet in a study conducted by Harvard, if people are given a legal and affordable option, they would much rather fork over the cost and struggle finding the they want to watch. That is interesting for sure. However, I would argue that piracy is in fact not an evil crime. Sure, it is a crime. However, it really just depends on who the victim is. It would hurt a small indie group that does not have a lot of money, but a huge corporation, they wouldn't even notice that any money is gone. Piracy is also the only way that lost media is still relevant. Piracy is also the only option for a lot of poor families. Should they not be allowed to partake in the creative literature that there is in the world because they have the misfortune of being born in the wrong family. Very true, but let's imagine the world like a game. Each person or player has a set number of skills given to them from birth, but do these skills mean the player will become an evil warlord? No, it only makes it easier, but that darkness comes from their environment. Hmm, I suppose. However, you yourself said that people are predisposed to evil, meaning that humans are born evil and that it can change due to their environment. Or humans are born as a blank sheet and are written by their upbringing. Very interesting. Well, that's all the time that we have for today. Thank you for joining us today, Adele. You are very welcome and thank you for having me here. Thank you for tuning in to the Real and Totally Not Fake Podcast. I will see you guys again next week. Drink water and have a good day.