Belief in the inherent evil of people or the world can lead us into hostile, tribal thinking that makes us more likely to carry out evil acts ourselves, writes David B. Wong. Classical Chinese philosophy teaches us that our capacity for good and evil is complex and responds to our environment. We should check our own perceptions and beliefs by engaging in open discussion and finding common ground to work together for a shared good.

It is a serious matter to call people evil for what they do or who they are. It is also inherently ambiguous. That human beings have it within them, under some circumstances, to intentionally commit terribly wrong, enormously destructive acts against others is among the most important truths we must accept about ourselves. This sense of ‘evil’ points to what we do as evil, and to ourselves as capable of it. However, we sometimes mean, in calling someone evil, something much harsher—that the tendency to commit these acts is a fixed and incorrigible feature of their character. This second sense draws our attention away from the role of the circumstances that engage with our capacity to harm and destroy.