For millennia, humanity’s primary explanation for evil was theological. In this framework, evil is not merely an action but a presence—a tangible force in a cosmic battle between light and darkness.
First, stop calling minor annoyances evil. It dilutes the word. Save it for things that actually cause preventable suffering. For millennia, humanity’s primary explanation for evil was
If a feature exists because someone realized “users are addicted to variable rewards” or “people don’t read terms of service,” and they used that knowledge to take advantage rather than protect — that’s a small act of evil. It dilutes the word
For most of history, we depicted evildoers as sadists, madmen, or demons—people who delighted in pain. But the 20th century shattered this convenient illusion. The Holocaust forced the world to confront a new, more terrifying kind of evil: the banal. For most of history, we depicted evildoers as
Perhaps the most insidious aspect of evil is that it rarely announces itself. It does not usually arrive with a sinister laugh; it arrives with a justification.