How do philosophers define good and evil?

Last updated: April 26, 2026

Philosophers define good and evil in different ways depending on their beliefs, but most agree that good refers to actions and qualities that benefit people and society, while evil refers to actions and qualities that cause harm. There is no single universal definition because philosophers have debated the nature of good and evil for thousands of years.

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Moral Relativism	Some philosophers believe good and evil are not absolute but depend on culture, personal beliefs, or circumstances
Moral Objectivism	Other philosophers argue good and evil are absolute truths that exist regardless of what people believe
Consequentialism	This view defines good and evil based on the results or consequences of actions
Deontology	This approach defines good and evil based on duties and rules, not outcomes
Virtue Ethics	This perspective focuses on good and evil character traits rather than specific actions

What Philosophers Mean by Good and Evil

In philosophy, good typically means actions, intentions, or character traits that are morally right and beneficial. Evil is the opposite, referring to actions or traits that are morally wrong and cause harm. However, philosophers disagree about what makes something truly good or evil. Some believe goodness is about following rules, others focus on the happiness or well-being it creates, and still others emphasize personal character and virtue.

Different Philosophical Approaches

Consequentialist philosophers like utilitarians say an action is good if it produces positive outcomes and evil if it causes negative ones. Deontological philosophers like Immanuel Kant argue that some actions are inherently right or wrong based on moral duties, regardless of their outcomes. Virtue ethicists, following Aristotle, define good and evil in terms of character traits and habits. A virtuous person develops good habits like courage and honesty, while a vicious person develops bad habits like cowardice and dishonesty.

The Challenge of Universal Definitions

One major challenge is that people from different cultures, religions, and time periods have defined good and evil differently. What one society considers good, another might consider evil. This has led philosophers to debate whether good and evil are objective truths that exist independent of human opinions, or subjective ideas that vary by person and culture. Most modern philosophers acknowledge that while specific definitions vary, most cultures share basic agreements about avoiding harm and promoting well-being.

Historical Development

Ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle explored good and evil through reason and logic. Medieval philosophers connected morality to religious teachings and God's will. Enlightenment thinkers tried to establish ethical principles based on human nature and reason rather than just religion. Modern philosophers continue to develop new frameworks for understanding good and evil in contemporary contexts.

Sources

stanford.edu/entries/ethics (stanford.edu/entries/ethics)
plato.stanford.edu (plato.stanford.edu)
iep.utm.edu/virtue-ethics (iep.utm.edu/virtue-ethics)