Thread by @DedalusDelegate

1/ I #StandWithUkraine because I strongly believe that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. To truly follow that maxim, we must understand what #evil is. The purpose of this thread is to push our comprehension. Where do we start?

2/ Lets analyze our intuition. Evil has this you-know-when-you-see-it feature. The Russian invasion is a perfect example. People from all around the world (regardless of culture, background, or religion) has identified the Russian aggression as evil and is siding with #Ukraine.

3/ But what is this feature that we so easily recognize? What is the nature of evil? If we could distill evil, what would it look like? These are the kind of questions I have been pondering since the start of the #war. I don't have the answers, but here are some of my thoughts.

4/ Firstly, evil individuals are not easily recognizable (note the irony). Visually-prominent villains are just artifacts of stories/movies where there is no time to properly develop a character. No time to explain that guy is evil? Give him uncanny features and you are all set.

5/ Secondly, a solid definition of evil requires conscious action. By this definition, accidents may be tragic but not evil. Thirdly, the motivation is important. Arson for example, it is not only defined by the action and the effect, but also the intent. Evil requires intent.

6/ There is one more parameter, which I find particularly difficult to analyze. Association. It is not uncommon that malicious deeds are done by individuals acting on behalf of a group or organization. In these cases, the evilness is only possible through said institution.

7/ This begs the question. Who is evil in those cases? The individual, the organization, or both? It is possible to say that the individual is malicious while the organization is amoral? Or maybe is the other way around? I can see interesting conversations exploring these topics.

8/ On this issue, I'll take a strong stance toward individual responsibility. We all are endowed with freedom of association and therefore we bear responsibility (liability if you will) for the actions of the groups we decide to join and collaborate.

9/ This relatively simple model goes a long way in explaining where evil resides in the context of the Russia invasion of Ukraine. Sadly, it also yields an enormous amount of individuals as complicit of the atrocities. We must not sugarcoat or ignore this important conclusion.

10/ As the Russian government is deliberately attacking Ukraine, everyone who is part of said government is complicit. Add all the private companies doing business with the Russian government and your genocide-collaborators head count ascends to millions of individuals.

11/ Such a big aggregate of people live their lives mostly detached from the front lines. They don't feel like "evil". Moreover, their lives are so similar to ours, that we may be tempted to give them a pass. Maybe we should search for the source of evil somewhere else?

12/ However, Hannah Arendt in her book Eichmann in Jerusalem knew better and pushes back against this temptation. Arendt witnessed the trial of Eichmann, the worst of the worst standing trial. She reports that the culprit of horrible atrocities was... boring... even banal.

13/ The banality of evil represents one of the most important lessons of #WorldWarII. It reminds us that evil is not so easy to detect as we would like. Villains are not as flashy as the movies portray them, yet they are out there and their actions cause untold suffering.

14/ All of us must reach out to this group and be clear. They are part of the worst atrocity #Europe has witnessed in decades. To everyone linked to the #Kremlin, this is the moment to save your soul. Distance yourself from the killing machine. Quit. Move out. #StandWithUkraine

15/ I end this thread with an appeal to everyone in #Russia and especially those living in #Moscow to take action. Oppose the government. If you can't or won't. Vote with your feet. Leave Russia. Anyone reading this with acquaintances in Moscow, please, pass them this message.

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