Evil Exists Because Good People Do Nothing

There are people who raise the flag of kindness and are proud of their altruism. But their words turn out to be empty when they witness “everyday” evil without doing anything. Their inefficiency is evident when they turn their backs, close their mouths and remain silent in the face of injustice and the humiliation of other people.

A classic evil is genocide, in which entire groups of people are devastated. We hear “evil” and think of people who take lives violently. We imagine someone torturing or terrorists killing in the name of some god.

But we must make it clear that evil deeds are happening every minute, every day, around us. They take place in our families and with people close to us.

Most of us do not have the chance to save someone from a war or violent situations we see every day on TV and social media. But sometimes all we need to do is look up from the screens to witness things that offend our sense of humanity.

And so often we are silent accomplices to these acts. By doing nothing, looking the other way, swallowing our discomfort and turning our attention to something else, we become participants.

We talk about situations such as bullying or hearing screams through the wall from neighbors. Inside, children cry and partners are beaten in silence. We are also talking about neighbors who harm their pets, mothers who are mean to their children, the boss who exploits and humiliates an employee.

Evil comes with many faces and ways to spread its horrific power. Nevertheless, the reason for its survival is clear:

Arthur Conan Doyle used a very interesting term in his books when Sherlock Holmes confronted James Moriarty. He said Moriarty was suffering from “moral madness”.

Without meaning to, this expression actually encompasses an idea that many of us have. The idea is that only sick people or individuals with psychological disorders are capable of committing evil acts.

It may be that as long as we use the label “pathological”, we can somehow find meaning in actions that seem illogical and inexplicable. However disappointing it may be, it does not mean that we are always dealing with an illness or ailment. In fact, in most cases of horrific, destructive behavior, there are no antisocial personality disorders or diseases.

Sometimes normal people commit evil deeds because that is how they were brought up. They may have learned habits from a dysfunctional childhood. Other times, they are people with poor emotional control who are swept away by their impulses and external influences. Finally, there are times when our surroundings and circumstances act as a current that pulls us toward evil.

Albert Ellis himself once declared that an evil “essence” or evil gene does not exist, or at least is extremely rare. The truth is that we are capable of being accomplices to evil, given the right circumstances.

Let’s go back to the title of this article. One of the main reasons why evil triumphs is because supposedly good people do nothing.

But why? Why do we not act? What explains our immobility, our closed eyes to the truth? Looking anywhere except where evil is practiced? Let’s take a look at some basic examples and reflect:

• The first reason is simple. We tell ourselves that what we see has nothing to do with us. We are not responsible, we did not cause it and the person affected is not part of our group. Lack of emotional involvement is definitely one of the primary reasons for our immobility.
• The second aspect is linked to the need to maintain peace. For example, a teenager who witnesses an injury inflicted on another student may choose to remain silent instead of saying something. His passivity can be caused by his fear of upsetting the balance. He may be afraid to put his social position at risk. Defending the victim will only put him in a dangerous place. There he would risk losing his status and perhaps become a prey himself.

We know it’s not easy, especially when we have something to lose and others have something to gain. But despite that . We must try to find new ways to defend the person who needs help.

As the philosopher Edmund Burke said: justice exists only because people make an effort against injustice.

We said it before and we will say it again: evil comes in many forms and sizes. It can be subtle and it speaks many languages. Privilege, verbal aggression, discrimination, rejection, injustice…

It is not about going out in search of evil and suffering. It’s easier, you fundamentally and more helpful than that. All we have to do is open our eyes and be sensitive to what is happening in front of us. Every day in our neighborhood. We are all responsible for stopping injustice, and there is no better place to start than at home.

Moral integrity is our everyday duty. That’s when we decide to do something. We condemn the abuse, the abuse, the aggression or the injustice. Let us give kindness a true meaning. Let us give goodness a true voice.