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'''Evil''', in many [[culture]]s, is a broad term used to describe [[intention]]al negative moral acts or thoughts that are cruel, unjust or selfish. Evil is usually contrasted with [[Goodness|''good'']], which describes acts that are kind, just or unselfish. In some religions, evil is an active force, often personified as an entity such as [[Satan]] or [[Ahriman]].

'''Evil''', in many [[culture]]s, is a broad term used to describe [[intention]]al negative moral acts or thoughts that are cruel, unjust or selfish. Evil is usually contrasted with [[Goodness|''good'']], which describes acts that are kind, just or unselfish. In some religions, evil is an active force, often personified as an entity such as [[Satan]] or [[Ahriman]].

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The modern English word 'evil' (Old English ''Yfel'') and its cognates such as the German 'Übel' and the Dutch 'Euvel' are widely considered to come from a Proto-Germanic reconstructed form ''*Ubilaz'', comparable to the Hittite ''huwapp-'' ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European form ''*wap-'' and suffixed zero-grade form ''*up-elo-''. Other later Germanic forms include Middle English ''evel'', ''ifel'', ''ufel'' Old Frisian ''evel'' (adjective & noun), Old Saxon ''ubil'', Old High German ''ubil'', and Gothic ''ubils''. The root meaning is of obscure origin though shown to be akin to modern English 'over' and modern German 'über' (OE ''ofer'') and 'up' (OE ''up'', ''upp'') with the basic idea of "transgressing".[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=evil]

The modern English word 'evil' (Old English ''Yfel'') and its cognates such as the German 'Übel' and the Dutch 'Euvel' are widely considered to come from a Proto-Germanic reconstructed form ''*Ubilaz'', comparable to the Hittite ''huwapp-'' ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European form ''*wap-'' and suffixed zero-grade form ''*up-elo-''. Other later Germanic forms include Middle English ''evel'', ''ifel'', ''ufel'' Old Frisian ''evel'' (adjective & noun), Old Saxon ''ubil'', Old High German ''ubil'', and Gothic ''ubils''. The root meaning is of obscure origin though shown to be akin to modern English 'over' and modern German 'über' (OE ''ofer'') and 'up' (OE ''up'', ''upp'') with the basic idea of "transgressing".[https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=evil]

==Concepts of evil==

==Concepts of evil==

Judaism and Christianity both focus on individual repentance of sin, but in Judaism, repentance requires the forgiveness of the injured party, and thus is rather difficult in some cases, such as murder, but for other crimes, if one is sincerely asked for forgiveness on [[Yom Kippur]], the Jewish Day of Atonement by someone who has truly repented, it is a religious obligation to forgive. In Christianity, the nature of repentance is dependent on denomination. Jewish beliefs and Christian teachings say each person will give an account of all their actions, including [[faith]] and obedience.

Judaism and Christianity both focus on individual repentance of sin, but in Judaism, repentance requires the forgiveness of the injured party, and thus is rather difficult in some cases, such as murder, but for other crimes, if one is sincerely asked for forgiveness on [[Yom Kippur]], the Jewish Day of Atonement by someone who has truly repented, it is a religious obligation to forgive. In Christianity, the nature of repentance is dependent on denomination. Jewish beliefs and Christian teachings say each person will give an account of all their actions, including [[faith]] and obedience.

:The One forming light and creating darkness,  Causing well-being and creating calamity;  I am the LORD who does all these.Isaiah 45:7

:"The One forming light and creating darkness,  Causing well-being and creating calamity;  I am the LORD who does all these". Isaiah 45:7

In the [[Bible]], the story of Job is a bold example of how evil exists and seems at times to be victorious, although according to Christian beliefs, all have sinned and fallen short of the perfection of God (Romans 3:23), and the price of missing the mark of perfection (sin) is death. The crucifixion of Jesus was the sacrifice of a sinless, superior, and good being for the sins of mankind; thus, salvation from death occurs in understanding this idea and making the Christ Lord over one's life.

In the [[Bible]], the story of Job is a bold example of how evil exists and seems at times to be victorious, although according to Christian beliefs, all have sinned and fallen short of the perfection of God (Romans 3:23), and the price of missing the mark of perfection (sin) is death. The crucifixion of Jesus was the sacrifice of a sinless, superior, and good being for the sins of mankind; thus, salvation from death occurs in understanding this idea and making the Christ Lord over one's life.

====Carl Jung====

====Carl Jung====

Carl Jung, in his book ''Answer to Job'' and elsewhere, depicted evil as the "dark side of God". People tend to believe evil is something external to them, because they project their [[shadow]] onto others. But from a psychological point of view to be evil is to refuse to acknowledge the weaknesses in one's own personality. Jung interpreted the story of [[Jesus]] as an account of God facing his own shadow., [http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/dow/ Dreams of Wholeness]: A course of introductory lectures on religion, psychology and personal growth (Hong Kong: Philopsychy Press, 1997/2008), see especially Chapter XI.)

Carl Jung, in his book ''Answer to Job'' and elsewhere, depicted evil as the "dark side of God". People tend to believe evil is something external to them, because they project their [[shadow]] onto others. But from a psychological point of view to be evil is to refuse to acknowledge the weaknesses in one's own personality. Jung interpreted the story of [[Jesus]] as an account of God facing his own shadow., [https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/dow/ Dreams of Wholeness]: A course of introductory lectures on religion, psychology and personal growth (Hong Kong: Philopsychy Press, 1997/2008), see especially Chapter XI.)

====Legal Definitions====

====Legal Definitions====

==Philosophical quandaries about evil==

==Philosophical quandaries about evil==

===Is evil universal?===

===Is evil universal?===

A fundamental question is whether there is a universal, transcendent definition of evil, or whether evil is determined by one's social or cultural background. C. S. Lewis, in ''The Abolition of Man'', maintained that there are certain acts that are universally considered evil, such as rape and murder. On the other hand, it is hard to find any act that was not acceptable in some society. Less than 150 years ago the United States of America, and many other countries practiced brutal forms of slavery. During [[World War II]], [[genocide]] was deemed acceptable, [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/ Today, there is strong disagreement as to whether homosexuality and abortion are perfectly acceptable or evils. Universalists consider evil independent of [[culture]], and wholly related to acts or intents. Thus, while the ideological leaders of Nazism and the Hutu Interhamwe accepted (and considered it good) to commit genocide, the universally evil act of genocide renders the entire [[ideology]] or [[culture]] evil.

A fundamental question is whether there is a universal, transcendent definition of evil, or whether evil is determined by one's social or cultural background. C. S. Lewis, in ''The Abolition of Man'', maintained that there are certain acts that are universally considered evil, such as rape and murder. On the other hand, it is hard to find any act that was not acceptable in some society. Less than 150 years ago the United States of America, and many other countries practiced brutal forms of slavery. During [[World War II]], [[genocide]] was deemed acceptable, [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/] Today, there is strong disagreement as to whether homosexuality and abortion are perfectly acceptable or evils. Universalists consider evil independent of [[culture]], and wholly related to acts or intents. Thus, while the ideological leaders of Nazism and the Hutu Interhamwe accepted (and considered it good) to commit genocide, the universally evil act of genocide renders the entire [[ideology]] or [[culture]] evil.

Views on the nature of evil tend to fall into one of two opposed camps. One, moral absolutism, holds that good and evil are fixed concepts established by [[God|god]], nature, morality, common sense, or some other source. The other, moral relativism, holds that standards of good and evil are only products of local [[culture]], custom, or prejudice. Moral universalism is the attempt to find a compromise between the absolutist sense of morality, and the relativist view; [[universal]]ism claims that morality is only flexible to a degree, and that what is truly good or evil can be determined by examining what is commonly considered to be evil amongst all humans.

Views on the nature of evil tend to fall into one of two opposed camps. One, moral absolutism, holds that good and evil are fixed concepts established by [[God|god]], nature, morality, common sense, or some other source. The other, moral relativism, holds that standards of good and evil are only products of local [[culture]], custom, or prejudice. Moral universalism is the attempt to find a compromise between the absolutist sense of morality, and the relativist view; [[universal]]ism claims that morality is only flexible to a degree, and that what is truly good or evil can be determined by examining what is commonly considered to be evil amongst all humans.

What critics perceive to be a [[morality|moral]] determination is disguised, they argue, with a scientific-sounding name but no complete description of a mechanism by which the abnormality can be identified. In other words, critics argue, "sociopaths" are called such because they are first thought to be "evil" - a determination which itself is not derived by a [[scientific method]].  

What critics perceive to be a [[morality|moral]] determination is disguised, they argue, with a scientific-sounding name but no complete description of a mechanism by which the abnormality can be identified. In other words, critics argue, "sociopaths" are called such because they are first thought to be "evil" - a determination which itself is not derived by a [[scientific method]].  

Research into sociopathology has also been investigated biologically,[http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/18573/] Are there biological reasons why people are evil rather than moral? Are there physical underpinnings of behaviors that societies reject as sociopathic? Most neurological research into sociopathology has focused on regions of the [[neocortex]] involved in impulse control. Some other research seems to indicate that sociopathy may at least partially be related to a lack of ability to realize the true consequences of one's actions.

Research into sociopathology has also been investigated biologically,[https://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/18573/] Are there biological reasons why people are evil rather than moral? Are there physical underpinnings of behaviors that societies reject as sociopathic? Most neurological research into sociopathology has focused on regions of the [[neocortex]] involved in impulse control. Some other research seems to indicate that sociopathy may at least partially be related to a lack of ability to realize the true consequences of one's actions.

When a person acts in such a way as to use others as means to achieve one's own personal ends or fails to consider the consequences of his or her acts upon the lives of others, it is considered to be psychopathic or sociopathic. If one accepts the Christian ethic that "by their deeds you shall know them", such acts are evil. This is the view taken by [[Walter Wink]], the Christian theologian of non-violence. Some authors, like the psychologist [[Benjamin B. Wolman]], consider society as a whole to be moving towards a psychopathic mindset, but this stance has yet to gain wider acceptance. In the 2007, Ph.D Philip Zimbardo suggested that people may act evil as a result of a collective [[identity]]. This hypothesis, based on his previous experience from the Stanford prison experiment, was published in the book 'The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil'.

When a person acts in such a way as to use others as means to achieve one's own personal ends or fails to consider the consequences of his or her acts upon the lives of others, it is considered to be psychopathic or sociopathic. If one accepts the Christian ethic that "by their deeds you shall know them", such acts are evil. This is the view taken by [[Walter Wink]], the Christian theologian of non-violence. Some authors, like the psychologist [[Benjamin B. Wolman]], consider society as a whole to be moving towards a psychopathic mindset, but this stance has yet to gain wider acceptance. In the 2007, Ph.D Philip Zimbardo suggested that people may act evil as a result of a collective [[identity]]. This hypothesis, based on his previous experience from the Stanford prison experiment, was published in the book 'The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil'.

In the U.S. movie ''Wall Street'', evil in business is identified with manipulation such as with corporate raider Gordon Gekko who famously declares to an audience of shareholders of a company that he wishes to purchase that "greed is good" while the results of Gekko's actions result in the dismantling of companies and destruction of people's jobs for the sake of Gekko's personal profit. The character of Gordon Gekko in the movie is based at least in part on Ivan Boesky, especially regarding a famous speech he delivered on the positive aspects of greed at the University of California, Berkeley in 1986, where he said in part "I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself"

In the U.S. movie ''Wall Street'', evil in business is identified with manipulation such as with corporate raider Gordon Gekko who famously declares to an audience of shareholders of a company that he wishes to purchase that "greed is good" while the results of Gekko's actions result in the dismantling of companies and destruction of people's jobs for the sake of Gekko's personal profit. The character of Gordon Gekko in the movie is based at least in part on Ivan Boesky, especially regarding a famous speech he delivered on the positive aspects of greed at the University of California, Berkeley in 1986, where he said in part "I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself"

==References==

==References==

# Harper, Douglas (2001), [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=evil Etymology for evil],  

# Harper, Douglas (2001), [https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=evil Etymology for evil],  

# Sanders, E.P., "The Historical Figure of Jesus", Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, p. 115 (1993)

# Sanders, E.P., "The Historical Figure of Jesus", Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, p. 115 (1993)

# Isaiah 45:7

# Isaiah 45:7

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.names-meanings.net/names/evil.html Evil Names]

*[https://www.names-meanings.net/names/evil.html Evil Names]

*[http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=1229 Good and Evil in (Ultra Orthodox) Judaism]

*[https://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=1229 Good and Evil in (Ultra Orthodox) Judaism]

*[http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90617&page=1 ABC News: Looking for Evil in Everyday Life]

*[https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90617&page=1 ABC News: Looking for Evil in Everyday Life]

*[http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20020101-000004.html Psychology Today: Indexing Evil]  

*[https://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20020101-000004.html Psychology Today: Indexing Evil]