Adam Morton argues that any account of evil must help us understand three
things: why evil occurs; why it often arises out of banal or everyday
situations; and what we mean by evil. Using a wide variety of examples, he
argues that evil occurs when internal, mental barriers against it break
down.Evil has long fascinated psychologists, philosophers, novelists and
playwrights but remains an incredibly difficult concept to talk about. On Evil
is a compelling and at times disturbing tour of the many faces of evil. What is
evil, and what makes people do awful things? If we can explain evil, do we
explain it away? Can we imagine the mind of a serial killer, or does such evil
defy description? Does evil depend on a contrast with good, as religion tells
us, or can there be evil for evil's sake? Adam Morton argues that any account
of evil must help us understand three things: why evil occurs; why evil often
arises out of banal or everyday situations; and how we can be seen as evil.
Drawing on fascinating examples as diverse as Augustine, Buffy the Vampire
Slayer, psychological studies of deviant behaviour and profiles of serial
killers, Adam Morton argues that evil occurs when internal, mental barriers
against it simply break down. Adam Morton also introduces us to some nightmare
people, such as Adolf Eichmann and Hannibal Lecter, reminding us that
understanding their actions as humans brings us closer to understanding
evil.; Exciting and thought-provoking, On Evil is essential reading for anyone
interested in a topic that attracts and repels us in equal measure.
