The problem is how to define evil. Hitler believed he was saving the world from people with bad genes. The results of a person's actions matter much more than intentions
Discussion
I dunno. Evil is easily recognized with or without a definition. There’s many things in life, evil being one, that you just know it when you see it.
Evil in the extreme is easy to recognize. I think there is a great deal of everyday evil that lays the foundation for the extremes & it's the failure to recognize those everyday evils that is the real problem
A lot of evil acts are carried out by people who either don’t think what they’re doing is wrong at the time, or they do it because they’re afraid of what will happen if they speak out. That’s why it’s so hard to see it until after the fact.
Feels like you and Koontz agree.
“Some people misunderstand evil and believe it will relent, and because their misplaced hope inspires dark hearts to dream darker dreams, they are the fathers and mothers of all wars. Evil does not relent; it must be defeated. And even when defeated, uprooted, and purified by fire, evil leaves behind a seed that will one day germinate and, in blooming, again be misunderstood.” -Dean Koontz
The point I’m trying to make, I guess, if there even is a point, is that evil IS recognizable. I’d even argue easily recognizable. I believe some choose to ignore it. Make excuses for it. “It’ll go away” they might say. I’d like to think I’m better than this.. but probably not.
Yeah, I like that.
Bro, there’s no debate on whether or not that was evil.
I agree, and I think people "just doing their jobs" and facilitating such things are doing evil too whether they understand their contribution or not. Good intentions are not an excuse. Which makes tax avoidance much more of a moral obligation than most want to believe.