Now I've posted various if similar takes on alignment in the past. But now I've finally gathered together something that best explains my views on alignment using modified definitions from both the 1st. Edition PHB and DMG. I do appologise if I'm begining to sound like a broken record. Everything below is a slightly modified version of 1st. Edition PHB and DMG definitions with some 2nd Ed. descriptions as well.
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Major Divisions:
There are two major divisions of four opposite points of view. All four are not mutually exclusive, although each pair is mutually opposed.
Law And Chaos: The opposition here is between organized groups and individuals. That is, Law dictates that order and organization is necessary and desirable, while Chaos holds to the opposite view. Law generally supports the group as more important than the individual, while Chaos promotes the individual over the group.
Good And Evil: Basically stated, the tenets of Good are human rights, or in the case of AD&D, creature rights. Each creature is entitled to life, relative freedom, and the prospect of happiness. Cruelty and suffering are undesirable and to supressed whenever possible. Evil, on the other hand, does not concern itself with rights or happiness; purpose is determinant.
There can never exist a Lawful Chaos or an Evil Good. These, and their reverses, are dichotomous. This is not to say that they cannot exist in the same character or creature if it is insane or controlled by another entity, but as general divisions they are mutually exclusive pairs. Consider also the alignments graph. If Law is opposed to Chaos, and Good to Evil, then the radically opposed alignments are Lawful Neutral — Chaotic Neutral, Neutral Good — Neutral Evil, Lawful Good — Chaotic Evil, and Lawful Evil — Chaotic Good. Lawful groups might, for example, combine to put down some Chaotic threat, for example, just as readily as Good groups would combine to suppress some powerful Evil. Basic understanding and agreement, however, is within the general specific alignment, i.e. one of the nine categories. These are defined as follows:
LAWFUL GOOD: While as strict in their prosecution of law and order, characters of Lawful Good alignment follow these precepts to improve the common weal. Certain freedoms must, of course, be sacrificed in order to bring order; but truth is of highest value, and life and beauty of great importance. The benefits of this society are to be brought to all.
NEUTRAL GOOD: Unlike those directly opposite them (Neutral Evil) in alignment, creatures of Neutral Good believe that there must be some balance of regulation in combination with freedom if the best is to be brought to the world — the most beneficial conditions for living things in general and intelligent creatures in particular.
CHAOTIC GOOD: To the Chaotic Good individual, freedom and independence are as important as life and happiness. The ethos views this freedom as the only means by which each creature can achieve true satisfaction and happiness. Law, order, social forms, and anything else which tends to restrict or abridge individual freedom is wrong, and each individual is capable of achieving self-realization and prosperity through himself, herself or itself, perhaps with help if wanted and or needed.
LAWFUL NEUTRAL: Order and organization are of paramount importance to characters of this alignment. They believe in a strong, well-ordered government, whether that government is a tyranny or benevolent democracy. The benefits of organization and regimentation outweigh any moral questions raised by their actions. An inquisitor determined to ferret out traitors at any cost to himself, or a soldier who almost never questions the hardships placed on himself or his own men are good examples of Lawful Neutral behavior.
TRUE NEUTRAL: True Neutral characters believe in the ultimate pointlessness of forces, and they refuse to judge actions as either Good or Evil. Since the majority of people in the world make judgments, True Neutral characters are extremely rare. True Neutrals do their best to avoid siding with the forces of either Good or Evil, Law or Chaos. They have no care whether these forces remain in balanced contention.
CHAOTIC NEUTRAL: This view of life and the cosmos holds that absolute freedom is necessary. Whether the individual exercising such freedom chooses to do Good or Evil is of little to no concern.
LAWFUL EVIL: Obviously, all order is not good, nor are all laws and groups beneficial. Lawful Evil creatures consider order as the means by which each group is properly placed in the cosmos, from the lowest to the highest, strongest first, weakest last, all for their own benefit. What others call Good is seen as an excuse to promote the mediocrity of the whole and suppress the better and more capable, those who would greatly benefit society if less encumbered. The philosophy of Lawful Evilness is to allow each group to structure itself and fix its members places as compared to others, serving the stronger, but being served by the weaker.
NEUTRAL EVIL: Similar to the Neutral Good alignment, that of Neutral Evil holds that neither groups nor individuals have great meaning. This ethos holds that seeking to promote weal for all actually brings woe to the truly deserving. Natural forces which are meant to cull out the weak and stupid are artificially suppressed by so-called Good, and the fittest are wrongfully held back, so whatever means are expedient can be used by hte powerful to gain and maintain their dominance, without concern for anything.
CHAOTIC EVIL: The Chaotic Evil creature holds that individual freedom and choice is important, and that other individuals and their freedoms are unimportant if they cannot be held by the individuals through their own strength and merit, or that freedom itself is so important that life is meaningless compared to it. Thus, law and order rends to promote not individuals but groups, and groups suppress individual volition, success and happiness.
