[Discussion] Was Light Yagami really evil from a moral standpoint? (Possible spoilers)

[Lelouch Le Brittania]

Even though this is about an anime character I think this fits into the General discussion because we're assaying his morality and analyzing Light philosophically. Whether Light exists or not is moot, as the themes of Death Note and complex issues evoked are very resonant and applicable today. To those who've watched Death Note how would you classify Light? Does the fact that his intentions were tainted divert from the fact and extenuate the massive benefaction given to humanity, with crimes dropping by 75% and global wars ending? Do the ends justify the means when only 1 innocent person dies for every 100 hardened criminal dies? Is Light wrong to play God? Are L and the SPK hypocrites for

[SPOILERS] using methods that violate all Geneva Conventions to capture Kira under the premise that Kira is evil for using the ends justify the means, while using the ends justify the means themselves[/SPOILERS]

Or whether Light as a person is good or bad moot, as only the results of his actions what matter?

 

[Pumpkin Ninja]

He had a God Complex. At the end of it, you could tell he really didn't care much about the peace thing. I mean didn't the maniacal laugh give it away? L was a hypocrite, they could have caught Light a while back if they stopped pretending they cared for the laws when they broke them anyways. Still I like Light and L. IMO, the end doesn't justify the means, nobody has complaints until the innocent person that dies is a loved one. Basically people who say that are generally hypocrites.

I personally think the book corrupts people because when he lost his memories, he really believed Kira was in the wrong.

Whether he's bad or good is a hint as to whether he's fit to rule or not.

 

[Lightbringer]

He was self-righteous to the point where he justified sacrificing his friends and family for his goals.

There's hardly any difference between him and a tyrant. He rules with fear, not love, and punishes those he judges harshly without any chance of redemption. He thinks human life is expendable and that his life is worth more than anyone elses.

Yes, he was very evil. His intent might have been genuine to some degree, but he wanted to be the God of the world.

 

[Desiigner]

Light was a god. I can fully justify his actions.

P.S. funny... I'm actually listening to Kanye West - I am a GOD right now hehe

 

[YowYan]

I'd back up his actions right until he started killing goodnatured People just to stay out of the radar himself.

 

[Pumpkin Ninja]

Isn't who he kills completely depended on the justice system? It's not a perfect system and is essentially the same as regular capital punishment. Innocent people could be killed as well. Also, his source of information was the media and the book wasn't even that thick. Sooner or later they would have ran out of room xD. Unless you can use an eraser and write over it...

 

[Lelouch Le Brittania]

I'd back up his actions right until he started killing goodnatured People just to stay out of the radar himself.

But if he didnt stay out of the radar Kira, the very being who facilitated the death of criminals, the de facto effectuator of justice, would be dead. Light Yagami really was the only one in the world who can carry the mantle of Kira successfully. For a long time Light only killed hardened criminals, so much so that even L knew the second Kira wasn't light because the second kira killed recklessly and indiscriminately, something the first Kira didn't do except rarely

 

[Tennis Robot]

He had good intentions, but that does not change the fact that he was clearly lost in his delusions of grandeur as early as Episode 2, when he killed Lind L. Tailor simply for claiming to know the identity of Kira. He wanted to do good for the world, but he became absorbed with the idea of he himself creating a good world. It is difficult to explain. Essentially, it went from making the world a better place to Kira making the world a better place. He is similar to Danzo in that sense.

And killing people is narrow-minded in my opinion. However, I absolutely understand why he wanted to do it and would not condemn him for it. I would not even condemn him for what he did after he established his idea.

 

[Kazehime Seirin]

He considered killing his sister when she got kidnapped and killed L

 

[Lelouch Le Brittania]

He had good intentions, but that does not change the fact that he was clearly lost in his delusions of grandeur as early as Episode 2, when he killed Lind L. Tailor simply for claiming to know the identity of Kira. He wanted to do good for the world, but he became absorbed with the idea of he himself creating a good world. It is difficult to explain. Essentially, it went from making the world a better place to Kira making the world a better place. He is similar to Danzo in that sense.

And killing people is narrow-minded in my opinion. However, I absolutely understand why he wanted to do it and would not condemn him for it. I would not even condemn him for what he did after he established his idea.

Danzo's another story. Danzo didnt do any good for the ninja world, intention or not. Light had millions of followers who went out of their way to congratulate Kira for his purging humanity of criminals.

 

[YowYan]

But if he didnt stay out of the radar Kira, the very being who facilitated the death of criminals, the de facto effectuator of justice, would be dead. Light Yagami really was the only one in the world who can carry the mantle of Kira successfully. For a long time Light only killed hardened criminals, so much so that even L knew the second Kira wasn't light because the second kira killed recklessly and indiscriminately, something the first Kira didn't do except rarely

He used his father's account or computer to get access to the police criminal database. He was too greedy with the amount of people he killed that were registered detainees. He could've tried to kill corrupt politicians and convicted pedophiles all across the globe for starters. It was a bad move to kill so many people/savages in his own country. If he did not make that mistake he could go on for years getting rid of cancerous people bit by bit without any hints that would link back to him. And trusting a person he did not know well enough to pinpoint his reaction towards the power he'd get was also a bad move.

 

[Tennis Robot]

Danzo's another story. Danzo didnt do any good for the ninja world, intention or not. Light had millions of followers who went out of their way to congratulate Kira for his purging humanity of criminals.

Anyone prominent can easily gain a following. Hitler had millions of supporters.

Kira (and his followers) made it nearly impossible for dissenters to surface. Are you arguing that he was a good person because he had the ability to silence anyone who disagreed with him?

 

[Mellow]

He was a hero

 

[Lelouch Le Brittania]

Anyone prominent can easily gain a following. Hitler had millions of supporters.

Kira (and his followers) made it nearly impossible for dissenters to surface. Are you arguing that he was a good person because he had the ability to silence anyone who disagreed with him?

To be honest i myself think Light a pernicious sociopath, i just wanted to tackle the moral debate from all angles

 

[Pumpkin Ninja]

Man, this is making me wanna watch the series again, what a good story.

 

[hixa kuogame]

I think when L arrived on the scene, that's when he stopped caring about his goal and turned it into a fun game for himself. He complained about how boring life was. The deathnote was just an outlet for his boredom.

 

[Umari Senju]

I'd back up his actions right until he started killing goodnatured People just to stay out of the radar himself.

This is pretty much how I felt. At the end of the day it's all relative. Perception from whatever you feel "justice" is

 

[The Necromancer]

He had a God Complex. At the end of it, you could tell he really didn't care much about the peace thing. I mean didn't the maniacal laugh give it away? L was a hypocrite, they could have caught Light a while back if they stopped pretending they cared for the laws when they broke them anyways. Still I like Light and L. IMO, the end doesn't justify the means, nobody has complaints until the innocent person that dies is a loved one. Basically people who say that are generally hypocrites.

I personally think the book corrupts people because when he lost his memories, he really believed Kira was in the wrong.

Whether he's bad or good is a hint as to whether he's fit to rule or not.

Does the book corrupt people, or do people hide their true desires even from themselves until they have the means to fulfill them?

 

[Lelouch Le Brittania]

Man, this is making me wanna watch the series again, what a good story.

I made this thread after just finishing Death Note just 8 hours ago. One of the best anime I've seen, behind only Code Geass in my opinion.

 

[Pumpkin Ninja]

Does the book corrupt people, or do people hide their true desires even from themselves until they have the means to fulfill them?

Lol, that's probably it.