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Arts & Ideas
How we think about evil
Dec 6, 2024
Joining the discussion are Zrinka Bralo, a journalist from Sarajevo and executive director advocating for migrants, Lindsay Stonebridge, an academic focused on Hannah Arendt's work, Oliver Scott Curry, an anthropologist from Oxford, and philosopher Jack Symes. They dive deep into timeless questions of evil, contrasting personal experiences from the Bosnian War with philosophical reflections on morality. Fascinating insights emerge on the 'banality of evil,' the complexities within legal definitions of evil, and how societal structures can mask malevolence in everyday life.
56:56
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Quick takeaways
- Evil is a complex concept that has been interpreted through various lenses, such as philosophical, psychological, and systemic frameworks over centuries.
- Conversations around evil highlight the existence of flawed systems, suggesting that individuals often observe harm perpetuated by structural conditions rather than encountering raw evil themselves.
Deep dives
Conceptualizing Evil
Evil is difficult to define and has been conceptualized in various ways over the past 2,500 years. Philosophers and psychologists have described it as a cosmic principle, a form of ignorance, a mental state, or even a recognizable identity. In particular, forensic psychiatrist Gwen Adshead characterizes evil as an event in the mind, suggesting that it may not be a fixed trait of individuals. This complex understanding emphasizes that discussions surrounding evil often reflect our broader assumptions about human nature and morality.
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