Author Description
When Asked To Describe Wartime Atrocities, Acts Of Terrorism, And Serial Killers, Many Of Us Reach For The Word 'evil'. But What Does It Mean To Say That An Action Or A Person Is Evil? Some Philosophers Have Claimed That There Is No Such Thing As Evil, And That Thinking In Terms Of Evil Is Simplistic And Dangerous. In Response To This Sceptical Challenge, Luke Russell Shows That Concept Of Evil Has A Legitimate Place Within Contemporary Secular Moral Thought. In This Book He Addresses Questions Concerning The Nature Of Evil Action, Such As Whether Evil Actions Must Be Incomprehensible, Whether Evil Actions Can Be Banal, And Whether There Is A Psychological Hallmark That Distinguishes Evils From Other Wrongs. Russell Also Explores Issues Regarding The Nature Of Evil Persons, Including Whether Every Evil Person Is An Evildoer, Whether Every Evil Person Is Irredeemable, And Whether A Person Could Be Evil Merely In Virtue Of Having Evil Feelings. The Concept Of Evil Is Extreme, And Is Easily Misused. Nonetheless, Russell Suggests That It Has An Important Role To Play When It Comes To Evaluating And Explaining The Worst Kind Of Wrongdoing.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates whether the concept of evil retains a legitimate and necessary function within contemporary secular moral discourse. Luke Russell, a philosopher specializing in moral theory, challenges the skeptical view that labeling actions or individuals as evil is inherently simplistic or dangerous. By analyzing the psychological and moral dimensions of extreme wrongdoing, he argues that the term provides a distinct and useful framework for evaluating the most severe moral transgressions.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Philosophical analysis of the nature of evil actions and their potential incomprehensibility
- Examination of the relationship between evil and the concept of banality
- Theoretical framework for identifying the psychological hallmarks of evil
- Discussion on the criteria for defining an evil person versus an evildoer
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a historical survey of evil in religious or theological contexts
- Avoids prescriptive moralizing in favor of conceptual clarification
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a rigorous contribution to contemporary meta-ethics that successfully rehabilitates the concept of evil for secular use. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which manages to navigate complex philosophical debates without sacrificing accessibility for those interested in moral psychology.
Page Count:
264
Publication Date:
2014-01-01
Publisher:
Oup Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191021202
ISBN-13:
9780191021206
Philosophy
Non-Fiction
Ethics
Moral Philosophy