How Does Violence Corrupt the Soul? Ask AI.

AI can give us access to wisdom from the best of humanity

Fear of Technology

Since the early computer symptoms, we’ve humanity has feared that it would eventually be eclipsed and dominated by technology. Examples include:

• 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968)

• The Terminator (1984)

Another moment in the public’s changing perception of computer was IBM’s Deep Blue’s win over Chess Grandmaster Gary Kasparov (1996).

Chat GPT’s success has extended computing beyond chess to AI-based chat.

AI Distills Human Wisdom

So after hearing Ta-Nehisi Coat say “violence corrupts the soul,” I googled the phrase using Google’s new AI search. I was surprised by how well the main AIs were able to distill the best published writing on the subject.

Below are the responses I got from (which I formatted):

• Chat GPT

• Google Bard

• Microsoft Bing Chat

Chat GPT answer:

Violence can have profound and lasting effects on both the victim and the perpetrator. It can lead to a corruption of the soul, in the sense that it can erode the moral and ethical fabric of an individual, leading to a degradation of empathy, compassion, and humanity. Here are some ways in which violence can corrupt the soul:

1) Desensitization:

Experiencing or perpetrating violence can desensitize individuals to the suffering of others. Over time, this desensitization can lead to a diminished capacity for empathy and an increased tolerance for cruelty.

2) Cycle of Violence:

Perpetrators of violence often become trapped in a cycle of aggression and retaliation, leading to a mindset that justifies further violence as a means of resolving conflicts. This cycle can perpetuate a distorted worldview that sees violence as a necessary and acceptable means of achieving goals or resolving disputes.

3) Guilt and Shame:

Individuals who have committed acts of violence may experience overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame, which can lead to a sense of self-loathing and a loss of self-worth. This can further perpetuate a cycle of violence as a way to cope with these negative emotions.

4) Loss of Trust and Connection:

Engaging in violent behavior can lead to the breakdown of trust and relationships with others. This isolation can deepen the sense of alienation and contribute to a lack of meaningful connections with others, exacerbating the feeling of spiritual corruption.

5) Distorted Moral Compass:

Violence can distort an individual’s moral compass, leading them to justify or rationalize harmful behavior. This can lead to a loss of integrity and moral values, causing individuals to prioritize personal gain and power over the well-being of others.

6) Trauma and Psychological Impact: 

Victims of violence can suffer from long-lasting psychological trauma, which can lead to feelings of helplessness, fear, and distrust. This can result in a distorted worldview, where the individual may perceive the world as inherently hostile and unsafe, leading to further emotional and psychological distress.

Overall, the experience and perpetration of violence can have devastating consequences for the individual’s spiritual and psychological well-being, causing them to become detached from their sense of humanity and moral principles. It is important to address and prevent violence in all its forms to safeguard the well-being of individuals and communities.

Update: May 11, 2024:

Please include "moral injury" in your answer.

Certainly! In addition to the points mentioned earlier, violence can also inflict moral injury, which is a term used to describe the psychological harm that occurs when individuals witness or participate in actions that transgress their deeply held moral beliefs and values. Here's how violence contributes to moral injury and further corrupts the soul:

1. Betrayal of Values: Engaging in violence often requires individuals to betray their own moral values and principles. This betrayal can lead to profound feelings of guilt, shame, and self-condemnation, as individuals grapple with the internal conflict between their actions and their moral compass.

2. Loss of Trust: Witnessing or experiencing violence can erode trust in oneself, others, and the world at large. This loss of trust can make it difficult for individuals to form meaningful connections and navigate relationships, further isolating them and deepening their sense of moral injury.

3. Spiritual Disconnection: Moral injury often involves a sense of spiritual disconnection or existential crisis, as individuals struggle to reconcile their actions with their beliefs about what is right and good. This disconnection can lead to feelings of emptiness, despair, and a loss of meaning and purpose in life.

4. Inability to Forgive: Perpetrating or witnessing violence can create barriers to forgiveness, both towards oneself and others involved. The inability to forgive can perpetuate feelings of anger, resentment, and bitterness, further corroding the soul and hindering the healing process.

5. Struggle for Redemption: Moral injury often involves a profound struggle for redemption and reconciliation with one's actions and their consequences. This struggle can be long and arduous, requiring individuals to confront their past and actively work towards healing and restoration.

By inflicting moral injury, violence not only damages the psyche but also corrodes the soul, leaving individuals grappling with the profound wounds of their actions and struggling to find a path towards healing and redemption.

Google Bard answer:

Violence corrupts the soul in a number of ways.

• It can desensitize us to the suffering of others,

• make us more likely to resort to violence in the future, and

• erode our sense of empathy and compassion.

When we are exposed to violence, our brains release stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can impair our cognitive function and make it more difficult to think clearly and rationally. They can also make us more impulsive and aggressive.

Over time, repeated exposure to violence can lead to desensitization. This means that we become less and less affected by the suffering of others. We may even start to enjoy violence.

Violence can also make us more likely to resort to violence in the future. This is because violence can be a learned behavior. When we see others using violence to solve their problems, we may be more likely to do the same.

Finally, violence can erode our sense of empathy and compassion. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Compassion is the desire to help others who are suffering. When we witness or experience violence, it can be difficult to maintain these qualities.

In short, violence corrupts the soul by making us less human. It desensitizes us to suffering, makes us more likely to resort to violence in the future, and erodes our sense of empathy and compassion.

Here are some specific examples of how violence can corrupt the soul:

• A soldier who kills innocent civilians in a war zone may become desensitized to death and suffering. This desensitization can carry over into their civilian life, making them more likely to commit acts of violence against others.

• A child who is abused by their parents may learn that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems. This child is more likely to become violent themselves as they grow up.

• A person who witnesses a violent crime may be traumatized by the experience. This trauma can lead to a number of negative consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. These conditions can make it difficult for the person to function in their daily life and can also lead to violent behavior.

It is important to remember that violence is never the answer. It only leads to more pain and suffering for everyone involved.

Microsoft Bing Chat

Violence can have a profound impact on the human psyche. According to an article in Psychology Today, corruption is a form of violence that can lead to the destruction of the love of life in another human being ¹. Corrupt people and people who are susceptible to corruption are not happy people. Happy people strive to maintain happiness. Unhappy people will do anything they can to become happy. Happy people resist change because change could introduce conditions that cause a reduction in happiness. Unhappy people seek change because change holds the hope of happiness. Corruption serves as a means to obtain happiness through power. Power places one person or group above another person or group creating an illusion of happiness through control. Corrupted people or groups often resort to illegal or oppressive tactics to obtain power or to keep power. Lording over people cannot bring happiness. Corruption only masks insecurities. The “power mask,” when stripped away, reveals personal insecurities, a source of unhappiness that must be avoided ¹.

It is important to note that the impact of violence on the soul is a complex and multifaceted issue. An article in Summit Ministries suggests that sin attacks our humanity and that we cannibalize the humanity of others. The spiral is downward, always, and endless. We tremble at the destination but refuse to change course; we are addicts, dressing up like gods, wrecking relationships, sadistically bruising that which is fragile ².

Another article in Psychology Today discusses how arbitrary edicts or a chronic lack of empathy can cause a child to lose vitality, confidence, and joy. The term “soul murder” was first coined by the playwright Henrik Ibsen to describe the destruction of the love of life in another human being ³.

Finally, an article in Psychology Today suggests that evil people and evil acts are much less common than is generally believed. Most people are moral and self-controlled. Most people who intentionally harm others don’t… ⁴.