Whose definition of evil does Nightblood use?

[flying_shadow she/her]

Nightblood affects people it deems evil or not evil differently, but how does it tell the difference? Whose morality is being used?

[Bigmikey357 he/him]

If you feel sick the first time you come into contact with it then you pass the litmus test as to whether you can safely wield it (safely is of course a relative term, meaning that it won't kill you immediately). Nightblood then takes its definition of evil from that wielder.

[StrikerEZ he/him]

10 minutes ago, Kalinovsky said:

Nightblood affects people it deems evil or not evil differently, but how does it tell the difference? Whose morality is being used?

To expand upon @Bigmikey357‘s point, Nightblood kind of looks at the person, sees what they evil is, and if they would use the sword for those purposes, they go crazy and end up killing themselves. Here’s a WoB that touches on this: (spoilered for length)

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson

Chapter Thirty-Five

Vivenna Awakes, Bound by Vasher

This chapter—with what happens in the latter part of it—is the most dangerous in the book. Dangerous to me as an author, I mean. I love good plot twists, but I worry about leaving them without proper foreshadowing. I've never done something as drastic as I have in this book, having a group of sympathetic characters turn out to be working for the wrong side. I hope it succeeds, but I know that if it doesn't, readers will be very mad. Nothing is sloppier than a book with unearned changes in character motivation.

But we're not there quite yet. Before that we have the first real interaction between Vivenna and Vasher. He gives her what he likes to think of as the Nightblood test. One nice thing about having a sword that "cannot tempt the hearts of those who are pure" is that when someone like Vivenna touches it, she gets sick. I didn't want Nightblood to come across as a "one ring" knockoff. He doesn't turn people's hearts or corrupt them. However, in order to be able to do his job and fulfill his Command, he needs the ability to determine who is good and who is evil.

This, of course, isn't an easy thing to determine. In fact, I don't think it's a black or white issue for most people. When Nightblood was created, the Breaths infused in him did their best to interpret their Command. What they decided was evil was someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes, selling it, manipulating and extorting others, that sort of thing. Someone who wouldn't want the sword for those reasons was determined to be good. If they touch the weapon, they feel sick. If others touch the weapon, their desire to kill and destroy with it is enhanced greatly.

Nightblood himself, unfortunately, doesn't quite understand what good and evil are. (This is mentioned later in the text.) However, he knows that his master can determine who is good and who is evil—using the sword's power to make people sick, or through other means. So, he pretty much just lets whoever is holding him decide what is evil. And if the one holding the sword determines—deep within their heart—that they are evil themselves, then they will end up killing themselves with the sword.

Vivenna passes the test, which surprises Vasher. He thought that she'd be the type who would use Nightblood to kill and destroy. (He doesn't have a high opinion of her, obviously. Of course, that's partially because he's let his temper dictate what he thinks.)

source

 

[Toaster Retribution he/him]

He thinks Nale is evil, so he has some kind of subjective way of telling. He cant see in shades of grey though, so a ton of the people Nightblood considers evil will probably not be evil.

[Quantus he/him]

My theory on source of The Test is that when Shashara created him and gave him the Destroy Evil Intent, she did not herself have a clear/conscious definition of Evil, but being somewhat of a moral person she did have a gut-level impression of Evil, int he same way a lot of people can tell if something is evil when faced with it even if they arent conscious philosophers enough to put it into words. So the Test is more or less an Imprint of Shashara's subconscious definition of evil at the time of his creation.

That being said, I do think Nightblood is maturing and will be able to make his own moral judgements eventually, as evidenced by how he thought Szeth's drowning of that crippled criminal was "Cruel". 

[Calderis he/him]

Personally, I don't think Nightblood has any personal sense of evil. If he you pass his test you must be good, so he likes you, and anyone who hasn't yet is potentially evil (I.e. Nale). 

The determination of "evil" is only in regards to that test and is completely internal on the part of the wielder. 

I think a true Sociopath would wield nightblood with no issues, as total lack of conscience means they can't believe themselves to be evil. 

After that, while being wielded, he will destroy absolutely anything, evil or not. 

[Quantus he/him]

2 hours ago, Calderis said:

Personally, I don't think Nightblood has any personal sense of evil. If he you pass his test you must be good, so he likes you, and anyone who hasn't yet is potentially evil (I.e. Nale). 

The determination of "evil" is only in regards to that test and is completely internal on the part of the wielder. 

I think a true Sociopath would wield nightblood with no issues, as total lack of conscience means they can't believe themselves to be evil. 

After that, while being wielded, he will destroy absolutely anything, evil or not. 

Out of curiosity, do you think he's capable of the sort of change necessary to eventually learn/develop a conscious of his own?  And would the fact that he's now kinda in a spiritual menage-a-trois with a Highspren have any affect?