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Theory & Psychology
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Evilness as Intention

The Intentional Detachment from and Destruction of the Human Condition of Co-existence

Preben Bertelsen

University of Aarhus, pb{at}psy.au.dk

The purpose of this article is to examine on which psychological foundation we might be able to identify evil as an independent psychological phenomenon which requires its own non-clinical concept and diagnostics. An evil act, it is proposed, is something that a person does intentionally and can be held responsible for. A basic model of human activity is presented based on human connectedness to the world in general and on co-existence as a core of the human condition in particular. Genuine evilness is defined as intentional detachment from and destruction of human co-existence. This definition presupposes a level of self-organization where co-existence can be an intentional project in itself. Only beings that can have co-existence as an intentional project in itself can intentionally detach from it and act destructively towards it in a genuinely evil manner.

Key Words: co-existence • evil • intentionality • self-organization

Theory & Psychology, Vol. 15, No. 5, 679-710 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0959354305057269
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[Abstract] [PDF]