Hopefully, this thread won't quite be what you're probably thinking it is.
I just watched the 1st episode of Dexter on On Demand last night (I missed its original run). In this episode, we learn that Dexter's foster father, a cop, figures out Dexter is a burgeoning serial killer when he catches him killing animals. Dad figures he's not likely to stop there and sees no alternative but to let Dex have his fun, but channel his murderous urges toward criminals who "deserve" the treatment he'll be giving them (of course, we have to suspend disbelief a bit here; I mean, they never even CONSIDERED therapy or psychopharmacology. But failing to do so would ruin the fun.).
The question I want to pose isn't is what he's doing immoral or evil. Rather, for the sake of argument, assume the killings, even though they're of criminals, are evil. Who, then is more evil in this scenario? Dexter for actually committing the murders, or Dad for condoning them, and actually teaching Dex how to avoid getting caught?
One could argue that Dex, being what he is, can't help himself, and has no choice but to commit these crimes, in some form. But Dad certainly does. One could also argue that Dex is insane, & his view of the morality of his actions is therefore skewed. But Dad isn't laboring under any such disability. For these reasons, I personally think Dad's evil is actually greater (I also didn't think it desirable for Alex to be forced into being "good" in 'A Clockwork Orange", either).
On the other hand, one could argue that Dex's killings are inevitable, and Dad is just doing damage control, and actually minimizing the evil Dex will eventually do, making his evil act the lesser of the two. Dex seems to understand that the urges he gets, and what they make him do, are not looked upon as morally right by the rest of society. But he doesn't feel that himself, and he does them anyway. And no one's holding a gun to his head MAKING him do these things. His is the hand that wields the knife, after all.
What do you think?
I just watched the 1st episode of Dexter on On Demand last night (I missed its original run). In this episode, we learn that Dexter's foster father, a cop, figures out Dexter is a burgeoning serial killer when he catches him killing animals. Dad figures he's not likely to stop there and sees no alternative but to let Dex have his fun, but channel his murderous urges toward criminals who "deserve" the treatment he'll be giving them (of course, we have to suspend disbelief a bit here; I mean, they never even CONSIDERED therapy or psychopharmacology. But failing to do so would ruin the fun.).
The question I want to pose isn't is what he's doing immoral or evil. Rather, for the sake of argument, assume the killings, even though they're of criminals, are evil. Who, then is more evil in this scenario? Dexter for actually committing the murders, or Dad for condoning them, and actually teaching Dex how to avoid getting caught?
One could argue that Dex, being what he is, can't help himself, and has no choice but to commit these crimes, in some form. But Dad certainly does. One could also argue that Dex is insane, & his view of the morality of his actions is therefore skewed. But Dad isn't laboring under any such disability. For these reasons, I personally think Dad's evil is actually greater (I also didn't think it desirable for Alex to be forced into being "good" in 'A Clockwork Orange", either).
On the other hand, one could argue that Dex's killings are inevitable, and Dad is just doing damage control, and actually minimizing the evil Dex will eventually do, making his evil act the lesser of the two. Dex seems to understand that the urges he gets, and what they make him do, are not looked upon as morally right by the rest of society. But he doesn't feel that himself, and he does them anyway. And no one's holding a gun to his head MAKING him do these things. His is the hand that wields the knife, after all.
What do you think?
