Exploring the Hierarchy of Evil: What Makes Actions Truly Wrong?

The Hierarchy of Evil

Let me start with the first level — Ignorant or Accidental Evil — this kind of evil happens from a mistake or misunderstanding, for example, a driver causes a fatal car crash while momentarily distracted by adjusting the radio, or texting-while-driving – totally unaware of the danger.

The next level would be Petty Self-Interest — this kind of evil is often driven by small acts of selfishness or personal gain, without regard for others, for example a driver speeds recklessly to avoid being late for work, or is drunk, or high on drugs, knowingly endangering others for personal convenience.

The next level would be Conformist or Obedient Evil — when people do wrong simply because they’re told to, for example, a chauffeur drives dangerously because their employer insists on arriving faster, obeying orders despite knowing it’s unsafe.

The next level of evil would be Reactive or Emotional Evil, for example a driver deliberately rams another car in a fit of road rage after being cut off.

The next level would be Instrumental or Calculated Evil, someone stages a car crash to collect insurance money, or knowingly risks lives to achieve a personal (or selfish) goal.

Sadistic Evil is when a driver intentionally hits a pedestrian to feel powerful or amused.

The next level in my Hierarchy of Evil would be Systemic or Bureaucratic Evil, for example a transport company neglects vehicle maintenance to cut costs, resulting in predictable fatal accidents.

Next, would be Ideological Evil, for example, a terrorist uses a vehicle as a weapon to kill people for a political or religious cause.
Psychopathic Evil is where a driver intentionally runs over strangers for pleasure, showing no empathy or remorse.

The ultimate level of Evil is what is known as Nihilistic or Metaphysical Evil, where a driver deliberately slams into a crowd “just because,” seeking destruction without motive or meaning.

References:

Alfred Adler. What Life Should Mean to You. George Allen & Unwin Ltd. 1938. Pages 200-201.

Hare, R., & Neumann, C. (2008). Psychopathy as a clinical and empirical construct.. Annual review of clinical psychology, 4, 217-46 . https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091452.

Arendt, H., & Evil, T. (2021). Appendix 3: Hannah Arendt and the Banality of Evil. The Moral Powers. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119657828.app3.

Hare, R. (1996). Psychopathy. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 23, 25 - 54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854896023001004.

Rae, G. (2019). Hannah Arendt, evil, and political resistance. History of the Human Sciences, 32, 125 - 144. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952695119833607.

Carrim, S. (2018). The Legacy of Hannah Arendt’s Banality of Evil. Review of Human Rights. https://doi.org/10.35994/rhr.v3i1.83.

Shermer M. The science of good and evil: why people cheat, gossip, care, share, and follow the golden rule. 1st ed. New York: Times Books; 2004.

Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Matnot Ani’im (Laws Concerning Gifts to the Poor), Chapter 10, sections 7-14, Maimonides lays out the eight degrees of giving.

Mrs. Dymond, By Miss Thackeray a novel: Anne Isabella, Lady Ritchie, nee Thackeray Paperback – July 26, 2016. Publisher : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform