Should we use the term ‘evil’ in our moral, political, and legal discourse and thinking, or is evil an outdated or empty concept which should be abandoned?

The Problem of Evil

Jeanne Proust at Nowadays

Tue, Apr 24 at 7:30 p.m.   |   90 minutes


When we try to describe, understand and respond to various atrocities such as rapes, genocides, or serial killings, we often use the word EVIL. A wide range of questions arise when we try to think critically about the relevance of this term within the various discourses we are surrounded with.

Should we use the term ‘evil’ in our moral, political, and legal discourse and thinking, or is evil an outdated or empty concept which should be abandoned?

What happens when we qualify an action, or someone as being evil? What causes this moral judgement, and what effects may have this judgement?

In this Olio we will begin a discussion about the concept of Evil, its relativity, and the diversity of feelings that it inspires in us, such as fear, disgust, shame, spite, hate, or compassion. Together, we will try to analyze the complexity of this concept, and the symbolic representations that it may carry.

Teacher: Jeanne Proust

While teaching at different universities in New York, Jeanne is advocating for a widening of philosophical education beyond the academia frontiers by participating in different events open to the general public. She taught at Rikers Island as a volunteer, and regularly gives public talks in philosophy, leading her to recently produce her own podcast, "Can You Phil It?”.

Venue: Nowadays
Add to Calendar April 24, 20187:30 p.m. April 24, 2018 America/New_York Think Olio | The Problem of Evil Should we use the term ‘evil’ in our moral, political, and legal discourse and thinking, or is evil an outdated or empty concept which should be abandoned? None

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Olio: A miscellaneous collection of art and literature.