Good and Evil

Many philosophers have written theories on good and evil. Philosopher John Stuart Mill version of Good and Evil is the Golden Rule: “To do as you would be done by, and to love your neighbor as yourself.”(p. 211) That reminds me of a philosophy I grew up on “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.” This all means do not treat someone the way you do not want to be treated. Philosopher Immanuel Kant states that human beings have appetites and desires. And that we are also rational, capable of knowing what is right, and capable of willing to do it. Throughout my paper I will discuss points from both philosophers John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant by comparing them to some scenarios is the great 1940’s movie Casablanca.

The movie Casablanca staring Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine the main character is about making a difference, choosing to be right or wrong, good or evil. Victor Laszlo played by Paul Henreid is a Czech Renaissance leader fighting against the Nazis during World War II. Ilsa Laszlo played by Ingrid Bergman is the wife of Victor who falls in love with Rick while Victor was locked away in a concentration camp.

The movie “Casablanca” film set around World War II when German police and Nazis soldiers were capturing renaissance leaders like Victor Laszlo for fighting for power and freedom. While Victor was a prisoner at a concentration camp many people like Rick fled from America to a small country in Africa called Morocco, Casablanca to obtain visas to other countries. But, before Rick left Paris he falls in love with a woman and planned to take her with him to Casablanca. When she didn’t show he went on to Casablanca with Sam the pianist.

Rick is the owner of a café in Casablanca where the story is centered. When Victor escaped from the concentration camp the French police in Casablanca found out that he would be coming to Casablanca to attain a visa for two people. Meanwhile the Nazi leaders were trying to work with the captain of the French police to arrest the fugitive. Sam was asked by IIsa to play a song as time goes by that Rick had ordered him never to play. As Rick looked up his eyes gazed upon the woman he had fallen in love with in Paris. That started the conflict between Rick and Victor. Rick was still in love with Ilsa Victor’s wife. Prior to Victor and IIsa coming into the café Rick were handed some exit visas to hold. Rick had to decide whether