What is Evil?

Question

To what extent do we call someone's actions evil?Do we have any criteria to judge if that action is indeed evil?

Answer 1

Evil is a general term that covers a wide range of things. By the added sub-Q's to your headline Q, Your Q focuses on "*moral evil" caused by human actions and not on "*natural evil "caused by natural catastrophes." I think moral evil is defined as actions that cause morally unjustified harm or suffering to others with the intent of doing so or the knowledge that ones actions will have the consequence, potentially or actually, of doing so. War is evil in that sense as it leads to violating the ethical rules about hurting or killing others. Indifference to war may be evil because of the knowledge that it leads to evil acts by many. Judging the degree of evil in an act or action is sometimes easy and sometimes hard because the reasons behind actions are varied and multiple and situations are complex.

Yet, I believe almost every human being has a moral sense about these matters. I mean a moral sense based on reason rather than emotion.

side note: A thumbs down by someone shows the person has no knowledge of moral theories,or philosophy.

Leibnitz wrote a very interesting treatise on what is * and what constitutes evil. It is called the "Theodicy." I recommend it. This is philosophy is it not. It's well covered ground.

Too many A's to this Q try to limit it to religious definitions when the word has a philosophical (ethical) definitions that are broader than the narrower religious definitions here.

Answer 2

To answer you first question, most actions are of neutral quality. Depositing a check or looking up something in a library are neutral. The word evil gets tossed around rather heavily when someone hates and despises what someone else is doing.

We hate Hitler for killing millions of people for being Jewish or gay or Catholic. So we call him evil.

We have many, many criteria to judge if something is evil. Every religion defines various things as good or bad. Christianity and Judaism have the Ten Commandments and many other remarks on what acts are evil. Islam has the 5 pillars which discuss what every good Muslim should do.

For better, or for worse, you are going to have a really hard time finding absolute criteria. For every strongly held gauge of evil, there is almost certainly someone or some group that doesn't think so. Murder is considered evil, unless you are a cannibal, or defending yourself or your family, or your country. Polygamy is considered evil, unless you are one of those break away sect of Mormons, or Muslim.

Answer 3

Just like beauty and goodness, evil depends on the person you're asking. In America, most would consider dishonesty and violence as evil. But when you think about terrorists, they would say that what they do isn't evil because it's their way of living and they see things differently than we Americans do.

So, to answer your question, yes we all have our own criteria and moral values that are based on how we were raised, the country we live in, our religion and belief system, and our society. Categorizing things into good and evil is much like asking people what they view as "normal." Everyone will have a different answer.

Answer 4

I think every one is missing the point to your Q. Evil is one does or says something they know is wrong but they go ahead and do it anyway for no reason but to do it. for example killing some one just to do it is evil. but killing someone for a reason weather it be in war self defense, or revenge is not evil, though to many it may be wrong it is not evil. here are some things that are just simply evil no matter what view you take : Rape, child molesting, cereal killing, and torture of animals ( Micheal Vick )

An exception to these acts would be a mentally ill person who has no concept of right and wrong. But for someone to be able to claim that defense they must not try to hide The action or statement they made.

Answer 5

From the prospective of God every principle of every religion, philosophy and behavior fits neatly into one of two categories. It's either good and true or it's not. Evil is the absence of good just as darkness is the absence of light. God's way is good, everything else is evil. Good and evil are not relative. They don't change with popular trends or political winds.

Answer 6

Evil is so strange that it can change the world and oppose God
Its actually quite beautiful as a world without evil is static thus nothing as nothing changes
We should be happy that we have a God and even happier that we have Evil in a world were they will never be an absolute definition and will always change

Answer 7

The criteria we use to determine what is "evil" or not comes from our community, peers, upbringing...and so on. We are taught as children what is or is not moral, through the people we come into contact with. Their beliefs and laws are the guidelines we learn, and as we grow our experiences may or may not reinforce those childhood lessons. As such, what one person considers "evil" may be completely different to another person. Only you can decide to what the "parameters" of evil are. :)

Answer 8

There is no absolute definition for the term evil. Evil is simply a judgement we make. If someone were to rob a bank, the police may consider him evil. On the other hand, the theif may have needed the money to support his family and think the police evil for ruining his family's hopes.

Answer 9

Evil lurks in the hearts of all men. It is what makes the heart cold, uncaring and callose . If a fat slob took the bread from the mouth of a starving child. That is evil. But, if I fed that child from my own plate that is love.

Answer 10

Evil is anything that goes against what the Bible says.