evil

Evil is a term used across ethics, religion, philosophy, and everyday language to describe conduct, events, or circumstances that are profoundly harmful, malevolent, or morally wrong. The word derives from the Old English yfel, meaning wicked or hurtful, with cognates in several Germanic languages. In philosophical and theological discussions, evil is treated as a property or category that can affect persons, societies, or natural processes, often raising questions about the nature of morality and the good.

Evil is commonly distinguished into several categories. Moral evil refers to wrong or cruel actions by agents, such as murder or oppression. Natural evil refers to suffering caused by natural processes, such as earthquakes or disease, where no human agent is directly responsible. Some discussions also use metaphysical evil to denote a more abstract form of evil, such as the presence of systemic injustice or the absence of essential goods in the world. The distinctions are not universally agreed, and some theories treat moral and natural evils as interconnected aspects of a single framework for understanding harm and suffering.

The problem of evil is a central challenge in philosophy and theology. It asks how to reconcile the existence of extensive suffering with claims that a benevolent, omnipotent, or omniscient being governs the world. Responses include free will defenses, the suggestion that suffering serves a greater good or character-building purpose, and secular critiques that frame evil as moral or social constructs rather than metaphysical facts.

In practical use, evil is a value judgment used to condemn actions, policies, or events. Its analysis varies by ethical framework, culture, and discipline, and it remains a contested, debated concept rather than a simple, universal property.