Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that human beings are born with an innate inclination towards both good and evil, said, “The concept of good and evil changes according to cultures, religions, and time. Therefore, the concepts of good and evil are relative.”
Tarhan, who stated “Evil is the absence of good,” added, “The source of evil is a lack of empathy; not considering the rights, needs, and feelings of others opens the door to evil.”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founder Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, addressed the topic of the psychology of evil.
The existence of evil is inevitable where there is no absolute good
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that evil is not something that exists on its own, just as cold is the absence of heat and darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of good. He said, “Evil is actually the absence of good… Just as darkness cannot be found where there is absolute light, and cold cannot be found where there is absolute warmth, evil cannot be found where there is absolute good. However, the existence of evil is inevitable where there is no absolute good. The concept of good and evil has been the most debated concept among philosophers and theologians. How good and evil are defined, these questions have been continuously discussed. The definition of evil and good varies according to perspective.”
Concepts of good and evil can vary according to personal perspectives
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that millions of people died in the Iraq War, and at that time, the British Prime Minister defended it as beneficial for humanity in the long run, saying, “History will forgive us.” He added, “However, if you ask an Iraqi, they would say that this war was not good or right. Similarly, a child raised by a thief father learns theft not as evil, but as correct. In their life, theft is not bad. But according to general societal standards and moral norms, theft is evil. Therefore, the concepts of good and evil can vary according to personal perspectives.”
The concepts of good and evil have been defined differently throughout history
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the philosopher Spinoza said, “Good are the things we like; things that make a person happy and give pleasure are good, things that do not give pleasure are bad.” He explained that throughout history, philosophers defined the concepts of good and evil in different ways, and these definitions changed over time. He noted that Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato argued that the purpose of life was to be virtuous, and according to these philosophers, living a meaningful life and acting virtuously was the source of true happiness.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that, contrary to this idea, Epicurus expressed that ‘the purpose of human life is to pursue pleasure.’ He added that the concepts of good and evil evolved throughout history, and in monotheistic religions, absolute good is God, and there is no absolute good in the world.
The concept of good and evil is relative
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also touched upon whether humans are prone to evil, stating, “Human beings are born with an innate inclination towards both good and evil. For example, a lion does no harm when it is full and its safe space is not encroached upon, but humans can inflict harm for their own benefit, regardless of whether they are hungry or full. Examples from history, such as Nero burning a town to cook an egg or children being sacrificed to war gods, show that humans can be prone to evil. Children are sacrificed to war gods. The concept of good and evil changes according to cultures, religions, and time. Therefore, the concepts of good and evil are relative.”
“The Quran has removed uncertainties in the concepts of good and evil”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said that the best definer of what is good and what is evil is the Creator of the universe. “The Creator of the universe best defines good and evil. Monotheistic religions have made significant contributions to the concepts of good and evil. For example, the non-distortion of the Quran in Islam has removed the uncertainties in the concepts of good and evil,” he stated.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that Spinoza said, “Things that are in accordance with God are good, and those that are not are bad,” but he viewed nature as God and rejected heaven and hell. He added, “Humans, unlike other living beings, possess free will. While other living beings act according to their genetic codes, humans can make mental and moral choices. This free will makes humans responsible for good and evil.”
“As an institution, we also developed a scale of benevolence and malignancy”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated, “The source of evil is a lack of empathy; not considering the rights, needs, and feelings of others opens the door to evil.” He added that a lack of empathy is most common in narcissistic individuals but is also prevalent in antisocial, histrionic, and obsessive-compulsive individuals.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Selfishness is the fundamental characteristic of evil and brings with it feelings such as jealousy, ruthlessness, and mercilessness. The absence of benevolent emotions gives rise to malignancy. In the 2000s, New York State University developed a forensic psychiatry scale for immorality. We wanted to standardize this scale for Turkey. We received the response, ‘This scale varies according to culture. You need to create one according to your own culture.’ As an institution, we also developed a scale of benevolence and malignancy. We included it in the Wisdom Psychology book. This scale is also available online, and individuals can evaluate their benevolent and malevolent values.”
The main cause of evil is ignorance
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated, “The main causes of evil are lack of knowledge, lack of education, and ignorance. As Socrates also pointed out, as knowledge increases, evil decreases.” He added that lying is also at the root of evil, saying, “Lying weakens trust. When trust weakens, fear increases. A person who lies sees others as liars, cannot establish healthy communication, and their brain is constantly on the defensive. Lying feeds evil, and honesty is the greatest virtue. Someone who aims for this virtue would not condescend to lie. Being opportunistic seems profitable, but it is profitable only in the short term. Being virtuous is profitable in the medium and long term.”
Awareness eliminates 50% of evil
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that awareness eliminates 50% of evil, and the remaining 50% is corrected with effort. He said, “This journey is like learning to swim; you cannot learn to swim without swallowing water. It is said, ‘Deeds are judged by intentions.’ However, for those in leadership positions, deeds are evaluated by results. A manager must anticipate outcomes and take responsibility.”
“If a person is antisocial, the punishment given to them should be increased”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that individuals with antisocial personality disorder make non-compliance with social norms a character trait and lack feelings of compassion. He said, “Such individuals are considered to have antisocial personality disorder. This is not an illness. If a person is antisocial, the punishment given to them should be increased. Because they should not be released from prison without rehabilitation. If they are released without rehabilitation, they will continue to harm society. Psychological dynamics must also be considered. Secondly, there are disorders like schizophrenia. For example, an autistic child might kill their mother because she didn't give them food. The concept of a mother has not formed in this child's mind. This is like a lion eating its caretaker when hungry. Since mirror neurons do not form in their brains, they cannot empathize and cannot understand what the other person thinks or feels. Therefore, they make wrong decisions and are not responsible for their actions. A schizophrenic person might kill someone for looking at them sideways. Their criminal capacity is questioned, and if it is fully impaired, they must stay in the forensic ward of a psychiatric hospital for at least one year. They should not be released without treatment.”
“Most incidents of violence against women are not criminal cases, but clinical cases”
“Currently, most incidents of violence against women are not criminal cases, but clinical cases,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, continuing as follows:
“Because these individuals do not receive treatment and rehabilitation, when they are released with a restraining order, they become angrier and perpetrate violence again. Therefore, they need to be under treatment and rehabilitation. These individuals with a clinical diagnosis should be placed in rehabilitation centers, not prisons. A person with both a criminal type and jealousy paranoia can improve if their jealousy paranoia is treated.”
“Those with antisocial personality disorder should be rehabilitated”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan concluded his remarks by stating that antisocial personality disorder cannot be cured:
“However, these individuals, like substance addicts, should be rehabilitated. They are not criminals, but patients. For example, if cases of violence against women are clinical cases, these individuals should be treated clinically. Cases of violence against women are indeed increasing. 20-30 years ago, I wrote a book on this topic. At that time, there were 2-3 deaths per day due to domestic violence in France, while in Turkey there were 2-3 deaths per month. Now, in Turkey, 2-3 women die every day due to violence, and we have surpassed France. This is a terrible situation, and something is not right.”