1. The philosophical puzzle of evil -- 2. The horror and incomprehensibility of evil action -- 3. The psychological hallmark of evil action -- 4. The banality of evil -- 5. An evil person -- 6. Are you evil? Is anyone evil? -- References -- Further reading -- Index.
Summary:
We regularly encounter appalling wrongdoing, with the media offering a depressing parade of violent assault and murder. Yet some acts are so terrible that they go beyond the bounds of ordinary wrongdoing, leading us to read for the word 'evil'. In this Very Short Introduction, Luke Russell asks if evil is always horrific and incomprehensible, or if it can be banal. Considering whether there is a special psychological hallmark that sets the evildoers apart from the rest of us, Russell explores the philosophical thinking and the psychological evidence behind evil in history, fiction, and our modern world.
