chapter 7

Question 1

why have we not yet developed a psychology of evil?

Answer 1

• Mostly because of our fear of the consequences
• This book was written w the assumption that the dangers of not examining the psychology of Evil outweigh those of doing so

Question 2

danger of moral judgement

Answer 2

v• characteristic of those who are evil are to judge others of Evil - blame others for their flaws
• Often enough to know that whenever we judge another evil we may ourselves be committing evil
• Evil is a moral judgement yet it is also a scientific judgement
• We cannot lead decent lives without making judgements in general and moral judgements in particular
• The evil of moral judgement comes when one where self-criticism is avoided - judge yourself before you judge others

Question 3

the danger of cloaking moral judgement is scientific authority

Answer 3

The danger of cloaking moral judgement is scientific authority
• this is a major pitfall as we ascribe science much more authority that it deserves
• Two reasons: 1) very few understand the limitations of science 2) we are too dependent upon authority in general
• We are accustomed to regard science as the ultimate truth. When in reality science is the closest possible thing science concur to be the truth - the truth is something we strive for

Question 4

danger of misuse of science

Answer 4

• the greatest misuse of may not be attributed to the scientists themselves but those who proclaim personal opinions in the guise of scientific truth but to the public
• Once scientific facts and findings are published, as science depends on the free flow of information, it becomes part of public domain
• Scenarios where if the public could get hold of scientific information concerning evil - ex: a psychology test which could deter in which people are evil

Question 5

danger to scientist and therapist

Answer 5

• what about the danger scientists would be exposed to
• The most basic scientific investigator of Evil will always be the therapists - there is no way to penetrate the disguise of the evil except in the form of a healer
• The danger exists not only for therapists, exorcists, and healers but for anyone who becomes preoccupied with the subject of Evil
• The more closely we rub our shoulders with or against evil, the more likely it is that we become evil

Question 6

dangers in perspective

Answer 6

• the final concern one might have about the scientific investigation of human evil is that it could endanger the nature of science itself
• The tradition of science as value free would be seriously threatened
• No longer “true” science - always for either financial reasons or behind a hidden agenda of a large corporation or government

Question 7

methodology of love

Answer 7

• another aspect of Evil - its small, cheap, tawdry dreariness. It’s boring
• One can differentiate a living saint due to their uniqueness. Though their visions may we similar, the personhood of saints is remarkably different
• This is bc they have become utterly themselves
• The other end of the human spectrum are those who are least free, those who are evil and act very similar
• Once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all
• We are in combat against evil however if we kill those who are evil, we become evil
• If we attempt to deal with evil by destroying it, we end up destroying ourselves spiritually if not physically
• However, we must not see evil as being inherently insoluble as the struggle between good and evil that life has its meaning
• Evil can be conquered by goodness - only by love