How would you define evil? What are things an evil person does? What villains do you remember most from life or fiction and what do they do that makes you call them evil? No villain is too small (or big) to be mentioned.
I'm exploring a definition of evil and I hope you can provide insight. I hope to have a better definition than "I know it when I see it," though we can identify the bad guy in a story perhaps without explaining why.
The Holocaust Museum in Washington (and perhaps every Holocaust museum) says a big reason why they exist is so that we get to “never again.” We clearly haven’t – see the current Republican Party, plus despots in Hungary and elsewhere and far right political parties across Europe wanting to repeat the power grab and punish their opponents.
Why have we not reached “never again?” Do those lusting after power believe the destruction that happened in Europe in WWII won’t happen under them? Do they not care? Do they want that destruction? Do they believe they can hold onto power as the Soviets did for 70 years, Putin has done for 25, and China has for 75?
Does the rest of society not make the connection between what Republicans are doing now and the outcome of WWII? Do they believe the assurances of the far right? Do they want the destruction because they believe it will only hit those lower in the social hierarchy? What can Holocaust museums – and we – do to lessen the destruction likely to come? What lessons need to be put out there for others to clearly see what leads to a Holocaust (besides “vote harder”)?
That’s why I’m looking for a definition of evil.
Some of the components of evil that' I've come up with.
They take from us.
They control us.
They harm us.
They kill us.
Taking from us includes things like wage theft, greedflation, a much lower tax rate for the rich, and demanding ransom.
Controlling us includes denying abortion care, denying education, denying our culture, denying us to live our authentic gender and orientation, and separating immigrant parents from their children,
Harming us includes all manner of oppressions, including beatings, pay below living wage, restricted social safety net, calling us vermin to be exterminated, and declaring we're ineligible for heaven.
Killing us is rather obvious and includes refusing to curb gun violence. This does not include self-defense.
Can you name other attributes of evil?
Thank you.