The Causes of Evil

We can start out from two different assumptions. One, that human nature is basically benign and that evil is an aberration to be explained. The other is that human nature is neither good nor evil. We belong to the animal kingdom and it makes no sense to say that a horse or dog is evil. In addition, we have to admit that the small child is - to a degree - destructive (boys), greedy, envious and egotistical. Only parental and social influences reduce these natural tendencies and produce a socialised adult.

The problem is to explain the Holocaust, Serb ethnic cleansing, the genocide in Rwanda, the Muslim terrorists and the Khmer Rouge. Not trivial! Also: the Vietnam War, the Stolen Generation and the invasion of Iraq.

Evil is a deliberate violation of fundamental moral principles, involving a conscious disregard for the well-being and rights of others. Evil actions can manifest in various forms, including violence, deception, oppression, and exploitation. What caused the massive outbreaks of evil under the Nazis, in Rwanda and now with ISIS?

I think such tragic events happen when people forget that other people are human beings just like themselves, denying their humanity. As for why this happens, I believe there are eight major factors.

Empathy
Empathy allows us to imagine the suffering of another and motivates us not to cause them harm. When empathy is nullified indifference and brutality can enter.

Tribalism
Evil is often directed against those who are perceived as different. The most common forms of tribalism are nationalism, religious chauvinism and racism.

Fear
Ignatieff has written persuasively of the central role of fear in fuelling the civil wars in Yugoslavia. Neighbour suddenly feared neighbour after living peacefully together for decades.

Idealism
Idealism can be a powerful force for evil. This is seen in the Khmer Rouge, the Taliban, the Bader-Meinhoff killers and Anders Breivik in Norway.

Conformism
When a behaviour is normalised in a given society, such as anti-Semitism, slavery, genital mutilation or terrorism, people commit evil acts unthinkingly.

Denial
The person committing evil acts can deny what they do not want to see, such as the suffering or deaths of innocent people.

Reciprocity
Evil acts tend to occur in repetitive cycles. One might believe that the Jews should have learnt to be humane from their own suffering, and hence not maltreat the Palestinians. The atrocities in Gaza show otherwise. Injustice suffered by one person or group can rebound as similar behaviour with roles reversed further down the track.

Circumstances
At a more basic level, evil lies within each of us. Just as opportunity makes the thief, circumstances help create the perpetrator. There is a potential Red Guard or punctilious office-murderer inside each of us.