Abstract
Evil should be characterised as a specific constellation, which results from destructive connections between individual activities and systemic influences. The article shows some important aspects of the structure of evil and prefers the terms of wickedness and obscene coincidences to describe its own character. Therefore, also the division between rationality and affectivity appears as inadequate, because evil has on the one side an intrinsic attractiveness for individuals and is on the other side in modern societies more and more a product of a rationality, which is free from passion. Especially the emotional impoverishment is responsible for the increase of evil, which is demonstrated by two examples. Based on Paul Ricoeur, the evolution of malum can be developed by a short analyse of the relationship between Ethics and Emotions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Arendt, H., Eichmann in Jerusalem. Ein Bericht von der Banalität des Bösen, 7th Edn. Munich, 1991.
Berner, K., Gesetz im Diskurs. Konsequenzen theologisch-philosophischer Wirklichkeitsdeutung. Neukirchen-Vluyn, 1997.
Bloch, E., Experimentum Mundi. Frage, Kategorien des Herausbringens, Praxis. Frankfurt/ Main, 1977.
Boock, P.-J., Schwarzes Loch. Im Hochsicherheitstrakt. Hamburg, 1988.
Buber, M., Schuld und Schuldgefühle. Heidelberg, 1958.
Elias, N., Ñber den Prozess der Zivilisation I, 18th Edn. Frankfurt/Main, 1993.
Faßler, M. (ed.), Alle möglichen Welten. Virtuelle Realität — Wahrnehmung — Ethik der Kommunikation. Munich, 1999.
Günther, H., Art. Affekte III. Philosophische Aspekte, in G. Krause and G. Müller (eds.), Theologische Realenzyklopädie 1 (Studienausgabe). Berlin and New York, 1977.
Hoffmeister, J., Wörterbuch der philosophischen Begriffe, 2nd Edn. Hamburg, 1955.
Käsemann, E., Paulinische Perspektiven. 2nd Edn. Tübingen, 1972.
Lévinas, E., Zwischen uns. Versuche über das Denken an den Anderen. Munich and Vienna, 1995.
Nürnberger, R., Französische Revolution und Napoleon, in G. Mann (ed.), Propyläen Weltgeschichte Bd. 8: Das neunzehnte Jahrhundert. Frankfurt/Main, 1986.
Rauchfleisch, U., Allgegenwart von Gewalt. Göttingen, 1992.
Ricoeur, P., Die Interpretation. Ein Versuch über Freud, 4th Edn. Frankfurt/Main, 1993.
Ricoeur, P., Phänomenologie der Schuld II. Symbolik des Bösen, 2nd Edn. Freiburg-Munich 1988.
Sessar, K., Das Verhältnis von Täter und Opfer in der Strafrechtspflege, Zeitschrift für Evangelische Ethik 28 (1984), Gütersloh.
Sofsky, W., Traktat über die Gewalt, 2nd Edn. Frankfurt/Main, 1996.
Sofsky, W., Die Ordnung des Terrors. Das Konzentrationslager. Frankfurt/Main, 1997.
Stock, K., Freude an dem, was sein soll. Grundriss einer protestantischen Tugendlehre, in W. Härle and R. Preul (eds.), Marburger Jahrbuch Theologie V (Gute Werke). Marburg, 1993, pp.41–61.
Tisma, A., Die Schule der Gottlosigkeit. Munich-Vienna, 1993.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berner, K. Local Anaesthesia, The Increase of the Evil Through Emotional Impoverishment. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 4, 161–169 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011443505566
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011443505566