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Call for questions: EVIL (Patreon)

Published:
2023-10-05 02:10:43
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Yes, Ponerology. Evil. Does evil exist? What cultures believe in evil? What IS evil?

Leave questions below!

Comments

Cate Muenker

What’s your favorite evil movie or book? Does God always have to be the opposite of evil?

Matt Hirschl

Whom would you consider to be the most evil person to have ever lived?

Anna Thompson

Is evil a scale or black and white?

Lily

Is evil measurable? How is it studied/How do you study/quantify evil? (My girlfriend Natasha came up with these questions, she is smart and sexy)

L. Wink

Is there such thing as forgiving an “evil” act? Is there a correlation between the age of a person and the evilness of the act? Who is eviler kids, teens, young adults 18-25, middle aged?

mish the fish

i have a few questions. first, what is the origin of the eye eye or nazar? second, does satan get a bad reputation? third, are people born evil or are they made evil?

Antonia Clark

Omg yes! Are people that hoard money (aka billionaires) evil? And if not, whyyyyyyy??? Meaning, if any wild animal was hoarding resources we would call that an evil thing

Storm

Is believing in evil possibly bad for you? Like does it effect mental health and a persons outlook or is that maybe a placebo effect?

Rebecca Morrison

Do you think evil is a requirement for there to be good?

Storm

Where did the idea of evil come from?

Megan Lynch

What is the difference between things other animals do (even violent, bullying) that we just ascribe to "their nature" and things humans do that we tend to call evil? (Not that I'm a moral relativist...I'm just wondering whether there's a seed of evil in humans we can minimize but not eradicate, whether it's a malfunction in the "programming" of certain people, or whether it's inevitable in human society.)

Josie Chase

Is the concept of evil present in all societies? (Historical and present) is there always a word for it in different languages? (You’re amazing Alie!)

Ma's Nature Walks

How is the concept of evil formed in a culture's collective mind?

Courtney Peterson

Why does watching scary movies specifically about hauntings, exorcisms or possessions make me feel so awful? Honestly I can’t even watch the commercials 😅

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

What is your opinion of the phrase “banality of Evil,” coined by Hannah Arendt, from her book “Eichmann in Jerusalem” and how that relates to the world today?

Paul Smith

Do you think Evil as we conceive of it today could ever be fully cured/beaten? Or is it just a face of human nature that we will always be grappling with?

John Worster

How do you decide what is evil? Is it a case of I can't define it, but I know it when I see it

Storm

What can really be considered evil? Like some consider it evil to kill but some animals have to to survive, so is killing to eat really evil or just perception?

Paul Smith

Also, in what way has the assignment of "Evil" been used as a tool of oppression in history? Does it even exist outside of the social power dynamics inherent in creating a good/evil divide?

Katie Murray

Why is “evil” so often linked w “genius”?

RJ Doidge

It’s hard to describe evil but it’s often something that you can *sense* in another. Aside from intuition, is there any other term or research that has been done on this?

Leanna Shuster

Are there actions universally considered evil across the boundaries of culture, geography, and social standing?

Rebekah Hatherly

Is evil really possible? People are so complex! Is it possible that early ideas of evil were people who were narcissistic, or had anti social personality disorder and we just didn't have the psychological language for it?

Kat Gaines

When I was a teenager, my mom told me she had heard the harry potter books, which I had been reading for a few years already, were "demonic and evil" and asked me if that was true. This happened because of some conservative religious group attempting to censor a children's book which as we all know, still happens in excess today. Can you talk about book bans and censorship and how different groups' definitions of "evil" influence these actions (since it's banned books week!)

Katie Murray

Are humans basically good or basically evil/sinful?

Beau Jarvis

why are we so fascinated by evil?? i feel like it’s so interesting to study the twisted people in history.

Olivier Calas

Humans have long proven capable of the most vile/evil acts. Is it because we have greater imagination than any other living things?

Shealyn Wippert

When we think of "Evil" why is something religious in nature most peoples first thought? Satan, the devil, demons, etc before evil actions or ideas

Shanel Wilson

Why do we “feel” like something is evil? Is there something that causes our emotional/physical response when we perceive something evil or at least something seemingly so? FTQA, thanks Alie!

Yuri

Why are so many of our stories predicted on vanquishing evil, when that ends up giving us a us/them mindset that leads to more evil?

Celia LaBonte

Is there a way to measure evil in animals? (Thinking about dolphins specifically)

Patricia Handley

When did the concept of Good and Evil first come to be in human history?

Beau Jarvis

i saw this thing online that suggested every penny after 999 million should be given to charity and i thought that was quite interesting

Liv

do you believe humans are inherently good or evil? can you be both?

Kate Oldham

What makes us think evil is evil?

Shealyn Wippert

When we think of "Evil" why is something religious in nature most peoples first thought? Satan, the devil, demons, etc before evil actions or ideas

Celia LaBonte

Can an inanimate object be evil? Like with family curses or haunted dolls. Or culturally significant anti-evil objects like sage for example.

Rebekah Hatherly

Does evil historically usually relate to those who are "ungodly"? There is a lot of fear of certain language being used to categorize people for just being people without actively harming anyone, or just living their lives and being evil. Ex. those of us in the queer community, or other people who are marginalzied and being called evil for just exisiting. Is there a lot of history around "evil"'s connatations and its potential use for actually being unjust?

BigHighFive

What is the line that you cross when you go from bad to evil?

Josh Beatty

Are evil people born, or are they made by their own life choices?

Carrie Leigh

Where does "guilt" come into all of this...? Does the absence of guilt mean good or evil? Hmm ....

ScienceInTheArt

Is evil the opposite of good? And what then, is “good”?

Jaarmst

Ahh, but what is good…….

Corey

FTQA If evil exists in its most benign (per Arendt) and tangible - (billionaires) - when did People first start using the term "evil" in social contexts, and how may it have helped and harmed Our understanding of Ourselves and Each other in The World?

Jim Brunberg

My daughters and I spent a year roamschooling, looking for the "belly of the beast" but we never found the beast. What is this evil that people speak of? Is it pathology? We don't think it exists. Evidence at RoamSchooled.com Convince me we are wrong.

Mallory Nettleton

Has the presence of evil changed throughout time?

joesyourmom

Does capitalism meet the empirical criteria for evil?🐷🐷

Rick T

What happens to evil people when they die, according to non-Christian philosophies?

Jess Slattery

What are some similarities & differences across cultures for what is considered evil? Does the concept of evil/ how people relate to evil-ness differ between cultures or historical/political contexts?

Kristin 🦦

My daughter, Amelia, wants to know why certain animals (like her black cat, 🐈‍⬛) are considered evil?

G.Sil

Does the ability to consider certain actions evil vs good help set us apart from other animals/life? Other animals cannibalize their own for example, but that is just survival, if a human did it it would be rightfully considered evil. Is this part of our consciousness?

G.Sil

What has been considered evil that has changed the most over human history?

Eliana Weiss

Why do we love watching evil characters on screen so much?

Spicy Cheezit

How has religion influenced the idea of evil? Has it significantly changed the idea or has the concept of evil historically been independent of religious values?

Deacon Raid

Oh are we gonna talk about The Power of The Situation? Dr Zimbardo seems like he could be a Batman villain.

Scott Sheldon

Why is it that “evil” characters in a lot of TV and movies are misunderstood and have trauma done to them early in life? Why is that association there?

Bernard Kevin Buckley

Are there any religions or groups that actually promote the notion of evil? OR (as I suspect) is it more likely that others perceive their intentions to be evil, based on their subjective set of values.

Sharika Elahi

how do symbols of evil differ across cultures? are there any animals or motifs that are universally (or near universally) associated with evil?

Aurora Cullen

Can someone be empathetic and evil?

Leah Anderson

When people do really evil things that affect our entire society, I try to comfort myself by remembering that when I do things that conflict with my values, not only do I feel yucky, but I usually have consequences that outweigh the benefits I imagined would derive from ignoring my conscience. So probably people who knowingly addict an entire nation to a narcotic, or knowingly set up a predatory lending scheme that bankrupts hundreds of thousands of families, or who know that everything a certain president alleges about a stolen election is false, but run it as news anyway...they have consequences too? I feel like evil is what describes people who do unconscionable things, feel no remorse, benefit from their actions, and manage to have no consequences--or at least, no consequences they care about. Do such people truly exist?

Scott Sheldon

I hear the word “evil” and have negative connotations as a US citizen with a context of Christianity. Yet, I hear the word “evil” in regard to other people and their cultures today, and it is weaponized to oppress those same people. How can the duality of “evil” and “righteousness” exist and be interchangeable?

Leah Anderson

Also, I am convinced that humans believe in magic today just as much as they did hundreds of years ago, but that it is, for example, the unreality of white supremacy (and the unreality of believing it doesn't exist and affect the world); believing that a book is the word of a god; not caring about climate change because a deity is going to come to earth and save (some) people. So, how does the concept of "evil" work within the scheme of 21st century magical thinking? Is it different than older forms of othering people and blaming them for social ills (e.g. Spanish Inquisition, witch trials, etc.)

Antonia Clark

I saw that too! While I agree that hard work should be compensated, there is a limit... And that is when it's to the detriment of the rest of us

Iso partee

What makes an evil character compelling? I always find that “evil” characters are more interesting when they have relatable characteristics. Evil for evils sake is boring, you know ?

Kathleen Sachs

Why is the Republican Party in the United States so evil? No really…is it me, or do some of them act and sound like cartoon villains?

Iso partee

What are the connections of evil and the soul?

the ren you know

Did the concept of evil exist before religion or did religion create the definition?

Kathleen Sachs

What is your personal definition of evil? Mine is purposeful human cruelty…people who enjoy inflicting harm on other humans or animals.

Kathleen Sachs

Also…people who kick puppies and kittens are the worst.

Kathleen Sachs

If you were a deity and had to compose your own version of the Ten Commandments, what would they be?

Kent Durvin

Can anything in nature be considered evil? Parasitoid wasps, for example.

Sadie Vipond

How big of a part do genetics play in making someone closer to evil? Nature vs nurture kind of thing.

Iso partee

Is evil always tied to an action? For example, someone isn’t evil until they do something harmful. Is someone evil if they harm themselves?

Kathleen Sachs

Quite a few billionaires and corporations are letting the planet burn so that they can turn a profit…would you consider this evil? Also, do you think billionaires are evil?

Karla Maria Pires

What is the true opposite of EVIL? I just think that GOOD is not it...

Trevor Doty

Yes. Wasps are pure evil.

Sarah king

Do you know About the 4 types of evil? If so can you explain?

Sarah king

I don’t believe people are evil, but are systems?

Hannah Gorrie

How old is the concept of evil? Where do we find it throughout human history?

Howard Bergman

Does ‘evil’ exist? Do you mean as a Fallen Angel, or a Platonic ideal or a Hegelian Idea? Frankly, the question is absurd. People exist and they’re capable of doing very bad things. But ‘evil’ does not exist as an abstract spirit floating in the ether. It only exists in how actual, living people behave. Sorry there’s not really a question here.

Dave Brewer

Is there anything that has ever been considered evil by every culture?

Dara

YES, many systems are profoundly immoral and wicked.

Dara

What's the psychological theory/definition/framework of 'evil?'

Elven Eleven

Is the concept of evil, and good vs evil, more or less prevalent in patriarchal and matriarchal societies?

Gemma

how has christianity’s perception of evil changed over time?

Alexandre Catulle

The image of evil, why are horn, teeth, tail, snake eyes often used as evil traits?

Euan Munro

Do you think that other species understand the concept of evil? Perhaps other primates?

Fwaeldling

ups for this question !

Don Elliot

Is evil innate or is it the result of an individual action or reaction? Noun or verb?

Fwaeldling

are there depictions of evil deities in older religions/animism that harness evil for wholesome causes? with love, a Hellion.

Fwaeldling

yess good question !!

Fwaeldling

whuuuttt is thisss _googles at own risk_

Fwaeldling

what are words etymologically related to evil (but we don't realise anymore?)

Audrey Zindler

I kinda feel like evil is a spectrum and never clear cut. No one human is 100% evilness, not to mention the possibility of genuine positive intentions. This seems like a really challenging topic for scientifically study.

AussieColin

I'd like to make two comments as an atheist. Firstly, it really bugs me that religious people often associate doing good with going to heaven. Which is better? A person who does good in the expectation of reward, or the person who does it simply because it IS good & they want to leave the world a better place? Secondly, I'd like to throw out a quote from Joss Whedon (on Angel, the TV series) that has always resonated deeply with me... If there is no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. Because, if there is no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world. - Joss Whedon (Angel TV Series)

kexi

How is evil "defined" in different cultures? What are the overlaps and where do they differ?

Tabitha Dell’Angelo

My question is kind of related to this. Years ago I read a book called The Psychopath Test. It argued that there are psychopaths everywhere— not just billionaires- but lots of people in positions of power — could be the doorman at a hotel or a CEO. The point is people who position themselves so they can exercise power over others in problematic ways. I’m interested in the kind of evil that isn’t so in your face, the gaslighter, the person who takes pleasure in using others. Where does that come from? Is it learned? Can it be “fixed”?

Tabitha Dell’Angelo

And if we fail to acknowledge an evil system — maybe because we benefit from it —> privilege — is that evil?

Olga Kolesnikova

I think there's no such thing as pure evil - it doesn't exist in the world in the way love does, for example. Evil is a combination of things like greed and cruelty and disregard for others. Do you agree?

AussieColin

Trump? 🙂 I'd be surprised if 'trump' in the sense of trumping someone is not etymologically related to trampling them underfoot.

ChickenChomper

I wonder, is "evil" an act of pure selfishness and possibly a concept that evolved to minimise selfish acts? And is this because we as humans have evolved into extremely social creatures where selfishness is frowned upon and possibly detrimental to our overall fitness? I am very excited to hear this episode! According to Google lots of definitions of "evil" include "immoral" and so then you go into "what is immoral and moral?" I can't wait to hear where this goes! :)

Kayla Pilcher

Do you believe we (humans) are inherently good or evil?

michaela a. gabriel

Over the millennia, how have various cultures dealt with evil people? Cast them out? Exiled them? Killed them? Tried to save them (how?) or reform them? Worshipped them or at least elevated them beyond mere humanness?

michaela a. gabriel

Also, are there common denominators across cultures as to the definition of evil?

Kai Kishimoto

Does evil require intention? Does this vary across cultures?

Griffin Russell

Has there been found any kind of link between evil and genetics? Can someone be born evil, like it’s part of their being by default?

Boreal Becca

Is evil a universal concept? As someone who likes to believe that people are overall good and trying to do the best they can, real word examples of “evil” cause doubt. Are serial killers and child sex traffickers evil or did something just go really wrong in their brain?

Marlis Cheeseophile

When we say "evil" are we really looking at illness in a person or a culture? Can a person who is a sociopath and missing parts of themselves due to circumstance or genetics, through no fault of their own, really be evil, or are they sick, injured or severely handicapped by their condition? Murder may be an evil act that violates laws and laws of humanity, but is the murderer evil, or have they done a terrible thing? Seems like we lose our humanity when we apply the term "evil" to people rather than acts. Some people do so many bad things and sponsor whole evil movements, that I can get on board with deeming them "evil," but I'd still rather treat them as very ill than go "eye for an eye." This gets to the death penalty issue pretty quick, doesn't it? Can anybody who does horrible things really be a healthy, sane person with intact empathy and conscience? Is evil in the act? Is it the absence of empathy and compassion? Gangly, messy, confusing concept for an episode in the best possible way. Thanks, Alie!

Jim Brunberg

Just three Ology uberfans (my two young’ns & myself) positing that we don’t believe evil exists - just malfunction. Related question: in the pursuit of human “currencies” of power (greed: money, control), why is it so effective to cite “evil” as a motivation? Why do we fear INTENTIONAL malfeasance more than accidental crappiness?

Some Random Frog

Do other animals have concepts like evil, or is it just a human thing?

Pseudonym Jones IV

If want of money is the root of all evil, what is the mycelial network of all evil? Entropy? Hierarchical thinking?

Melanie Metzger

Would evil exist if good didn't as well?

Seán Thomas Kane

Do you have any favorite depictions of evil in literature, TV, or film? Peter O'Toole's performance in the second half of "The Ruling Class" comes to mind for me.

Hope

Is there a common theme between what different cultures use to prevent against evil? Do those tend wars against evil in general or get more specific?

Average_pi

Why are all the " bad guys " in kids tv shows evil? What does that teach the kids?

Jasmine Liu

Was there a concept of evil by another name prior to Christianity? Do all cultures associate evil with female-identifying individuals? Does the Ponerologist believe in the existence of "evil" or just the concept of it? How often do we still use the concept of evil to wage war, torture, colonize, decimate villages, etc.? Both in dominant cultures and not? Why do we all like the idea of being evil? For example, why do so many people want to be Slytherins when they are really Hufflepuffs?

Megan Morgan

First time question(s) asker! Is "evil" in the eye of the beholder, or is there a generalized idea that spans across cultures about what evil is? Who controls the narrative of what evil is? Is it along the same lines as "history being written by the victors"? Does the idea/definition of evil change within the same culture over time? What initiates that change? How are these changes tracked? If there is a group that is making waves trying to make change in a society, do media/movies/shows begin portraying "evil" characters as those making waves in order to halt change?

Danae DeJournett

Is evil different in other cultures? What makes something evil? How do scientists study this without bias if evil is likely unquantifiable and subjective? Is evil just a more convoluted feeling of some baser, simpler emotion like fear?

Devin McPeek

What are the cultural and historical origins of “evil?” Does it pre-date Christianity? How did the idea of evil change with the appearance of Christianity?

EricG

The usual definitions of the word EVIL (be it a noun or adjective) revolve around immorality. And yet, morality and immorality are culturally determined. What might a more expansive definition of EVIL be?

Jane Nelson

I was thinking of a very similar question, but more along the lines of evil vs ignorance. Like, people who genuinely believe Jews have horns. They hate and fear Jewish people and may commit horrific acts against us, but are they evil per se? Or just ignorant? Or is ignorance without pursuit of the truth (in other words willful ignorance) evil in itself?

Figment

Are you really going to devote an entire episode to Trump? 🤣

Neal Sorensen

Why are the best villains in fiction or the most reviled real-life villains are ones who believe they are doing the right thing?

JOLIN BLOOM

I don’t think it matters why you do good, as long as you’re doing it. One good is not better than another. There is no true altruism so everyone gets something out of doing good.

AussieColin

Why do you say that there is no true altruism? To me it is performing good (or refraining from evil) for no reason other than that it is the right thing to do. That's why I made the point that doing so in expectation of a 'heavenly reward' is not truly being unselfishly good. I do, however, concede your point that everyone gets something out of doing good, if only the internal satisfaction of knowing you did it.

Eloísa Fróes

how is evil different, conceptually, from bad? is it intensity? or is it intention?

TheMushy

Are we talking about how Every Villain Is Lemons ?

Staci Pinkowitz

First time question asker!! Can you speak on the connection between the concept of evil and the role of language (in humans)? I'm thinking about how language creates space for reflecting on the past and planning for the future. Like, can something be considered evil without the use of language to create a mental/semantic structure around it? Does this make sense????

Carla DM 101

Does the concept of evil exist in any culture outside of a religious framework?

Dave Langlinais

I originally landed on defining "Evil" as the essence of being or acting 'selfish,' (as opposed to "good" being defined as 'selflessness' or altruism). But then later modified that definition to requiring *intent* in regards to the 'evil' action being taken, regardless whether that intent is willfully malicious or merely callously apathetic in regards to whom the action affects. In other words, "'evil' cannot be 'accidental.'" But what is the actual consensus on the matter of how it is 'officially' defined?

Nathan-Andrew

I think this may be a different phrasing of the question I was about to ask, so I’ll link it here. Do all pre-industrial societies develop some tendency to offload the responsibility for, or inclination to, doing evil onto some other Being? Is there always some god, demon, devil, or djinn to blame for the temptation, or have any said, “nah, that guy is just a shithead”?

Ron

Is evil a universal concept across a wide range of cultures?

Stephen Moxley

Can you talk about the difference between “evil by nature” and “evil by nurture”? Is something still evil if the person behind it believes they are doing good, or doing something for the right reason?

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

Is there really anything that is pure evil that has been proven to exist? When I look around at what could be considered evil I don’t see pure evil. I see evil actions, severely damaged/hurt people, and institutions that treat people as objects/means to an end. I think a lot about Hannah Arendt’s idea if the banality of evil. So many evils are perpetrated by groups of people who think they are “just doing their job” without connecting their role to the evil outcome of their actions. What evils do you see ordinary people contributing to in your everyday life? How do the evil characters from religion, legends, folk stories and popular culture connect to real life evils?

Zinc

do you personally believe in the concept of evil? is there an inherently evil force in the universe?

Zinc

does the concept of a definitive evil largely come from a biblical concept of hell and the devil?

Cognito Ergo Sam

Who is more evil, the person who does the evil deed knowingly or the person who does the same deed because it’s their nature to do so?

Von Thompson-Wynn

Exactly what I was thinking. The very definition of evil seems like a moving target. At what point does an evil action cross the line to making the entire person evil? And who defines that? Is there even such a thing? There are some who might say that I am intrinsically evil because I am neither straight nor Christian and that I shouldn't be allowed to live because my very nature is corrupt. And there are places in the world where that belief is codified into law. In the eyes of the people making those laws, I am evil -- in my eyes, THEY are.

SmoothKriminal

How would you differentiate (if at all) between the concept of evil, and actions or words (like hate speech) that cause demonstrable harm to other humans?

Emily Staw-fur

How has the idea of evil changed over time? Looking at the 7 deadly sins, there are plenty of things today that are seen as normal that could have resulted in execution centuries ago based on these guidelines

Emily Staw-fur

Is evil a purely human experience or can it be found in other places in nature?

Margot Louis

In regards to individual humans, where’s the line between evil and just being a bad person?

Margot Louis

In your opinion, What’s the most evil thing/person/event you’ve come across in your studies ?

Ross Weckesser

If you have a doctorate in ponerology, does that make you Dr. Evil?

OtterKhaos (KrisP)

On the spectrum of all that is evil, are the GOP even on the chart or are they way off on their own tangent? No, but for realsies... Does evil really exist? Sure, it's a name we give to actions (and people who do those actions) that are truly depraved but it reeks of Religion and other antiquated things like that. We have so many other words to describe those actions now. Loads more than the illiterate farmers from 2,000 years ago. However, does the word 'evil' denote something other words can't really describe? Dictionaries define evil as "profoundly immoral and wicked". Which sounds about right....

OtterKhaos (KrisP)

Haha, remember the Otter episode? Dude said they're "pure evil" ;-P

Toni Spumoni

do you believe evilness can be “cured” i.e take the most heinous criminal you can think of; do you believe they could be rehabilitated?

Judy Perkins

Are some people born evil - is there an “evil” gene,

Rae Moore

How prevalent is the concept of inherent sinfulness(ie evil) outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition? And by that I mean the belief that we are born sinful by nature and by default are headed for hell unless the right steps are taken to prevent that outcome? I’ve always wondered if that is as far-reaching as it seems or if I only feel that way because I’m in a part of the world that’s so heavily influenced by Christianity and it’s like.

Nancy Ervin

Can Good exist without Evil? Or do you need one to recognize the other? For example, if there were no such thing as nighttime, would we even have a word for daytime?

Erin Burbidge

Related question: does evil (or good) require social bonds to emerge as concepts? If humans had been less dependent on social structures for our survival, might we have then developed less pronounced feelings about good and evil?

Gabrielle G.

Is money REALLY the root of all evil? Living in a time when people are simultaneously saying "There is no ethical consumption under capitalism" and "Vote with your dollars," how can I be sure I am not being an evil person when I spend money?

Colby Evans

True story: my dad taught Evel Knievel how to throw a curveball. Phonetic ‘evil’ at least

Colby Evans

Is there a baseline of knowledge and intentionality to the concept? Would the label still apply if the entity didn’t know its actions were bad?

Colby Evans

Similar question about knowledge or realization

Mouse Paxton

Considering that ideas on evil are relative, are there are any cultures, philosophies, etc. with a view on evil that you find particularly compelling or interesting? Fun story: I took a university course called 'Evil' once and during a job interview the interviewer, who I was not vibing with, looked at my transcript and just went 'What's 'Evil'?' in the most exasperated tone.

Katie Hammond

FTQA: what is the least evil thing you can think of?

Annmarie Everhart

Culturally, how have views of what is evil, and what is not, changed over time?

Marlis Cheeseophile

Oh yeah, the willful ignorance gets me. Is there a point where someone learns something about themselves and has the ability to walk it back, but then they choose to do harm out of selfishness. For instance, if a former president is a narcissist and megalomaniac, is he sick, delusional, out of control... or evil? This is where my "sympathy for the devil" begins to break down. It's the consumption of power and fomenting of hate, when you know you're doing it, that gets me up to the brink of considering evil over brokenness or illness. Your ideas are thought-provoking. Thanks!

Voxothoth

FTQA: Is evil dependant on sentience? Do you think that orcas who punt seals for fun are evil?

Mark McPhillips

First time question: What's your take on how morality is depicted in Dungeons and Dragon? (Two axes, Good vs Evil and Lawful vs Chaotic)

PopsicleEmperor

First time question: Can only self aware beings like humans percieve concepts like evil vs not?

Christina Johnson

I would love to hear a scientific and historic approach to this topic. Curious how evil was perceived throughout our evolution in different cultures and time periods. How did perceptions of what was evil change throughout time?.. or has there always been a similar thread in terms of what's evil or causes someone to be evil?

Jessica Cordero-Wilson

So many questions and thoughts! What is evil? What is it made of? Is it energy? Is it physics? Does it only exist because of ego? Do we all have equal amounts good and evil? Is it just a matter of choice? Are we born neutral? Are both learned? Can evil exist apart from good? Vice versa? which came first? How is evil experienced between cultures? For example: I grew up Catholic so my formal introduction was through that lens (golden rule, 10 commandments, the devil, etc)

Jeanette-o-saur

When I hear the word evil, I think absolutism. Evil connotes naturally, irredeemably, intentionally harmful. In that framework, it doesn't feel like it's a concept that has a place in science (or a society that believes in reform). How is evil defined in the current day, and has it evolved? Is my assessment of an absolutist concept on point or no longer applicable?

GhoulNextDoor

First time question! Does evil tend to be thought of as a separate entity acting on the world of its own accord or is it created? Also how long have people wanted to bang it? As far as manifestations of evil go vampires have long been depicted with a sex appeal that they either use to lure prey or that lend them to being sparky love interests in very blue toned pop culture phenomena. Not to mention the extensive array of paranormal romance written about everything and I mean EVERYTHING.

Aimee Bee

This question really has my brain churning rn!

Aimee Bee

At first I LOLed because 🤦🏼‍♀️ but then it made me think more about the perspective of Evil. Trumps followers aren’t seeing the evil in him just as Hitlers followers didn’t see his evil. I think my questions are these: Cult leaders who typically have narcissistic sociopath tendencies are (imo) evil, but they often amass followers in the hundreds/thousands/millions. Why can’t some people see the evil?? Would you consider this evil like I am?

Findlay Munro

Do we have any evidence for non-human animals (including other species of humans) having a belief or concept of evil? Is the “belief” in evil strictly human or a more widespread phenomena? Also, any evidence of “evil” being depicted in ancient art or practises, such as cave painting?

NovellaNay

New patreon and first time question asker. To what extent do you think that intent plays a role in what we believe constitutes evil? Even if the result is the same, two situations appear to be viewed differently depending on why it was done. E.g. a hunter killing a deer for meat to eat versus killing it for sport.

berto

Conceptually, does evil exist across a scale or is it the thing at the pole?

peach head

Is evil mostly a western concept born in ur obsession with dualism (good and evil)?

curly fry

What is the difference between a fun kind of evil (like Snape, death eaters, etc.) vs evil evil (doing horrible things to people for no reason) and how do we make this distinction?

curly fry

What is the history of calling big corporations evil?

curly fry

What is the definition of evil?

Trevor Hagedorn

Could you please go over the current science and philosophy around "are humans born evil"?

curly fry

Do people self identify as evil? Or are people always convinced they are doing good?

emily burns

why are we so obsessed with good and evil?

emily burns

at what point does hatred, aggression, and violence turn into evil?

emily burns

what fictional/folkloric villain best represents evil?

You Can Be The Judge

is evil in the eye of the beholder?(yes you could consider this a pun, if you are familiar with dnd lore)

You Can Be The Judge

Does absolute power corrupt absolutely? (is money of power more of a wide road to evil?)

Lauren Cooper

Why are we so fascinated by evil? Between the true crime podcasts, horror movies, etc it seems like we love it

Brooke Adams

Is evil a concept limited to the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc.)

Lee Wang

Is there a danger in calling others evil, which might wash our own hands of the responsibility to be moral beings?

Figment

i feel like i can say this because most of my family is in his camp. they (his supporters) CHOOSE to ignore all the wicked things he's done and said even though everything he stands for BY HIS ACTIONS goes against what they personally believe. they blindly overlook the wicked things he says because he was their candidate. you ask if they know he's evil? i think they do. if the other party did and said those things these same people would demand he be impeached, not allowed to run, and jailed. i don't understand how they can choose to overlook the man himself. it's beyond me how people cannot see, or more to the point, like i said, maybe they choose not to. but that's the thing, WHY?! i know great people. decent, caring, generous people, who voted for him and said they will again if he runs. it's the height of hypocrisy.

Figment

i'm very sorry everyone, this isn't supposed to be a platform for politics!!

Angel Estrada

Do you believe any animal is the embodiment of evil? (Cats)

Isabelle Newman

I’m always curious about the concept of people being inherently good or evil or if they exist simultaneously in both of us…how should we think about this phenomenon

Tristin Berg

How has the concept of evil evolved over time? Certain things that used to be considered evil are not anymore…who first decides what’s evil and what’s not? Is it a group effort?

Squirrelmo

FTQA: What has MRI/cognitive science revealed in terms of what motivates people to act in 'evil' ways. What's happening in the brain when a psychopath does something heinous? Why do some people like to see others suffering?

Squirrelmo

I also want to say that I watch the Paramount+ show 'EVIL' with Mike Colter. It's a science vs. paranormal procedural drama. Recommend.

Maddie Meehan

(first time asker, long time listener) Do you know anything about voodoo evil, and if so, is it used in a "just/fair" way or is it evil with no bounds?

StrawbrryMom 🍓

Is nature inherently evil? A raised catholic here, it seems like anyone with absolute power is “evil” unless it’s “God.” But when bad things happen, it’s could be the work of “the devil” or it could be “God’s way.” Like, isn’t it ultimately the same thing?

Gemma

is there any unifying feature of “evil” across cultures?

Pseudonym Jones IV

Maybe Dr. Proctor from Agnotology could touch base on willful ignorance as an enabler of evil?

DelilahD

How true is a child’s “compass” to know evil? Are there studies that support them pointing out evil people? How about dogs? When my niece was a toddler she said out loud that she did not like a man standing near us… that he was bad. She had never seen this man before and that was the only time I ever heard her say anything like that. That was years ago but I still think of it!

Kristen Snowden

First time question asker, long term podcast lover! How does the theme of redemption relate to evil? Is someone/something who is truly “evil” capable of being redeemed?

Darren Bush

My daughter as a toddler loved everyone. Except for grad school advisor. She would burst into tears when she saw him. Turns out he was a bad man. A very bad man.

Nevena Georgieva

How do our conceptual ideas about the presence of evil affect the real conditions of our world? If this sounds a bit vague, I guess I'm thinking about Einstein's famous "Is the universe a friendly place?"