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Questioning Evil

When we try to describe, understand and respond to various atrocities such as rapes, genocides, or serial killings, we often use the word “evil.” But a wide range of questions arise when we try to think critically about this term.

What happens when we qualify an action or someone as being evil? What causes this moral judgment, and what effects may this judgment have?

Nietzsche and Arendt embody a remarkable skepticism about the use of the term evil, and what it traditionally means/meant. Both extremely sensitive to the historical and social context that the word carries, they emphasize the hidden motives behind using it to qualify a certain group of people. Each in a very different way, they warn us against the dangers of leaving unquestioned the nature and concept of evil.

In this Olio we will begin a discussion about the concept of evil, its relativity, and the diversity of feelings that it inspires in us, such as fear, disgust, shame, spite, hate, or compassion. Together, along with Nietzsche and Arendt, we will try to analyze part of the complexity of this concept, and the symbolic representations that it may carry.

Teacher: Jeanne Proust has studied Philosophy and Visual Arts in Bordeaux, Berlin, and Paris. Her research focuses on Théodule Ribot’s Diseases of the Will, both in philosophical and psychological perspectives. While teaching at different universities here in New York, Jeanne is advocating for a widening of philosophical education beyond the frontiers of academia.

Complimentary beer by presenting partner Sixpoint Brewery.











When: Fri., Nov. 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm
Where: The Strand
828 Broadway
212-473-1452
Price: $20, includes complimentary beer
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When we try to describe, understand and respond to various atrocities such as rapes, genocides, or serial killings, we often use the word “evil.” But a wide range of questions arise when we try to think critically about this term.

What happens when we qualify an action or someone as being evil? What causes this moral judgment, and what effects may this judgment have?

Nietzsche and Arendt embody a remarkable skepticism about the use of the term evil, and what it traditionally means/meant. Both extremely sensitive to the historical and social context that the word carries, they emphasize the hidden motives behind using it to qualify a certain group of people. Each in a very different way, they warn us against the dangers of leaving unquestioned the nature and concept of evil.

In this Olio we will begin a discussion about the concept of evil, its relativity, and the diversity of feelings that it inspires in us, such as fear, disgust, shame, spite, hate, or compassion. Together, along with Nietzsche and Arendt, we will try to analyze part of the complexity of this concept, and the symbolic representations that it may carry.

Teacher: Jeanne Proust has studied Philosophy and Visual Arts in Bordeaux, Berlin, and Paris. Her research focuses on Théodule Ribot’s Diseases of the Will, both in philosophical and psychological perspectives. While teaching at different universities here in New York, Jeanne is advocating for a widening of philosophical education beyond the frontiers of academia.

Complimentary beer by presenting partner Sixpoint Brewery.

Buy tickets/get more info now