[March 26, 2019] What constitutes evil is not easily explained. It will always be the task of all moral leaders to identify, resist, and whenever possible destroy evil. For example, civilized nations came together during World War II to defeat the oppressive tyranny of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.
Evil can be defeated as we have seen in the history of humankind. War, sometimes, is the only tool that works and why it will remain as a useful instrument of prepared nations. Lately, we have been witness to the destruction of the terror organization ISIS in the Middle East.
What happens when evil is defeated, counterintuitively, is neither easy nor straightforward. Dealing with the aftermath of WW2 was an enormous undertaking that took decades of rebuilding civilizations; infrastructure, economies, and the lives of people. That is why leaders must be prepared for and plan to do those tasks necessary to help overcome and recover.
Two years ago in my blog, I asked the question, What happens after ISIS? My point was exactly that, “what happens after ISIS is what strategists should already be asking.” If we do not plan and prepare for the fall of evil, we run a great risk of it raising its ugly head once again. In the case of ISIS, the celebrations of its battlefield defeats are premature.
The underlying ISIS ideology based on radical Islam and its use by evil men has insured us that the terror group will reform and continue to destroy. It is of lesser importance to why ISIS grew in the Middle East. Those who have studied their rise saw ISIS expand after U.S. President Barack Obama prematurely pulled U.S. combat forces out of Iraq on an announced schedule.
The ideal way for leaders to defeat evil is to ensure its roots are also destroyed. To do so is also to acknowledge that evil is complex, aggressive, and it’s intent and methodology hidden from plain sight. For example, the evils of communism and its sister ideology socialism are often mistaken as good intentions. The death of 100 million in the 20th century is proof enough to know that the experiment has failed.
What happens after evil cannot be ignored. To be on guard against its return – often in another form – is what the great philosophers and religious leaders of the past warned us. To heed their advice is the smart thing to do.
New techology (e.g., tools) is not good or evil in and of itself. It’s all about how people choose to use it.
This is an important point. Thanks Willie.
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. Albert Einstein, smart guy!
Yes, for example, abortion is evil because we refuse to do anything about it.
“Humanity first experienced evil when Adam and Eve chose to exercise their freewill and eat of the forbidden fruit. Evil is the corruption of free will, which God gave us in order that we might have the choice to believe he is the arbiter of right and wrong, and knows what’s best for us. When Adam and Eve decided he did not know what was best for them — which was corruption of a particularly good thing — evil was born. Evil, then, is the corruption of that which is good.” This is a pretty good description of evil by author Sheri Bell
Here’s the link, forgot to add it.
https://www.josh.org/what-is-evil-exactly/
Thanks JT
Good article today. Made me reconsider a few things that I originally thought about “evil.”
It’s a dangerous over-simplification to believe that some people are innately ‘good’ while others are innately ‘evil’ or ‘bad.’ This misleading concept underpins the justice system of many countries.
Augustine says, “Nothing evil exists in itself, but only as an evil aspect of some actual entity.” The point is that evil and good are related, but that the relationship is not symmetrical. Evil is dependent upon good but good does not depend upon evil. SO it is correct to say that there can be evil without good whereas it is a mistake to say there can be no good without evil.
Wow, deep thinking here Max. Not sure exactly what you mean.
What do we really mean when we use these simplistic terms, ‘good’ and ‘evil’?
‘Good’ means a lack of self-centredness. It means the ability to empathise with other people, to feel compassion for them, and to put their needs before your own. It means, if necessary, sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of others’. It means benevolence, altruism and selflessness, and self-sacrifice towards a greater cause – all qualities which stem from a sense of empathy.
The evil vs good concept has fuelled many wars and conflicts in history, and even in the present day.
Thank you Max. It is always good to hear from you.
Wow, some really good ideas here. Thanks all.
If you really want to get a good idea of evil, then read Augustine. He really knew something about it. Here is a good summary of his position: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Augustine/augustine_evil.html
Many young people today (at least in the West) reject even the concept of evil because that implies that there is a God. A God is something they reject categorically because it will reflect upon them negatively. Just a thought. Have a great week everyone.
Smart take on this idea. Thanks Maureen!
Yes, good thinking. Evil is a confusing idea because it can mean small things and big things. But you are correct that it is based on morality (good versus evil) and thus rejected today more and more. As we drift away from the idea of “good” the more we will naturally drift toward the idea of “evil.”
Here is an example of how the mainstream media misses the point on what is evil. Just read this New Yorker Mag article to see. At first the author is on track and then deviates into politics. What a dufus!
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/what-do-we-mean-by-evil
To know evil is to know what you, yourself, are capable of doing to others that puts fear into them or harms them in some way. That is why I read the old classics like Dante’s Inferno. This gives a wild look at people who have actually given some deep thought to the idea.
Evil is one thing people avoid talking about … at all costs. They don’t want to actually identify those things in their lives that are evil and needing of throwing out. They are simply too comfortable with them.
I agree. We “see” evil and yet are unwilling to either define it, discuss it, or – heaven forbig – do anything about it. Why? Simple answer, we are cowards. We also know it’s hard work.
Hmmmm, interesting article today, Gen Satterfield. Are you becoming a philosopher?