Evil Misses the Point

My favorite useless definition of evil is essentially “selfish.” I like it in part because I grew up with a father who does not believe women are human beings and a mother who agreed with him out of fear.

I like that definition precisely because I can then point to all the ways in my life that I do things for people and say “See? People are wrong about me. I am good because I’m not like that.” And underneath, I’m thinking at least I’m not like my parents.

I’m sure you know what a hollow distinction that is, if you’ve ever tried not to be someone who has such a large influence on your life.

Much like the safety people seek in looking for a definition of “good”, seeking a definition for “evil” that you can use to make yourself feel better does nothing in particular for you.

Definitions and categories, in fact, do nothing for you but promise what they can’t deliver: simplicity.

For every action we can name which seems to fit neatly into our definition of good or evil, it is very easy to list another similar action which is difficult to fit into either.

Is it bad when someone is killed?

Honestly, that depends, doesn’t it?

And when something ends. And when someone is rude. And when something unpleasant happens.

“That depends” is the only answer you can really give. Every carrot (a nice, clean, simple definition) ends in a stick (a messy, unclear, uncertain situation.)

That’s the nature of the mind and the nature of good and evil—looks nice, promises everything, ends badly.