What Is Evil?

It is an intriguing question as always, about the definitions of good and evil. As established earlier, it is difficult to know for sure what is beneficial and non-beneficial. However, it seems to be agreed upon that knowledge is key to actually having intent, and that intentionally desiring non-beneficial things on others is quite unacceptable.

The problem here is that perhaps there is no specific definition of good or evil within an act: It is a matter of whether there is intent, and if the intent is malicious or benevolent. Therefore, the ignorant entity may well be performing acts that are highly harmful to others, but the ignoramus will be neither good nor evil given that state of perfect ignorance. Likewise, the entity is incapable of being good by performing beneficial acts.

Taking this further, it can be asserted that someone with absolute knowledge has the potential to do good or evil. Given that the outcomes of the actions are fully known, every action or inaction will be a result of some intent and thus that entity will be capable of absolute good or evil.

Of course, in reality, no individual is likely to be perfectly ignorant or knowledgeable. This may be a case to assert that while entities may have largely good or evil intentions, no single entity is likely to be purely good or evil. But it is possible to be quite ignorant and dumb about things.