The Minefield cover image

The Minefield

When is it right to call some act – or someone – “evil”?

Feb 21, 2024
Exploring the concept of evil in various contexts, delving into the complexities of labeling actions or individuals as 'evil'. Discussing the implications of moral responsibility and judgment, questioning the essence of evil and examining extreme cruelty. Examining the banality of evil in real-world atrocities and fiction, through the lens of Hannah Arendt's views on categorizing evil.
53:34

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Evil actions signify extreme wrongdoing, not necessarily evil individuals; distinguishing between acts and character judgment is crucial.
  • Evil can emerge from banal motives, challenging assumptions of monstrous intent; understanding incremental evil and human capacity is essential.

Deep dives

The Nature of Evil Actions and Persons

Evil actions denote extreme wrongdoing, while not every evil doer is considered an evil person, distinguishing between culpable wrongdoing and judgment of a person’s character is crucial; certain individuals may perform evil deeds but later show remorse and reform.

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