Even those who consider evil as real and tangible, like the horror we see in movies, often also view it as a deficiency or corruption of good.
Religious traditions frequently frame evil in this way, presenting it as a distortion rather than an independent force. This framing suggests that only good is fully real, while evil is secondary, almost illusory.
Even if this view were correct, accepting it does not mean we reach it independently; our perceptions and beliefs are shaped by cultural, psychological, and social influences.
Many religions, particularly Christianity, insist on the existence of an all-powerful God of love. They argue that God did not create evil, because evil is not a substance or force in itself, but merely a deficiency of good. By this logic, a perfectly good God cannot create evil.
Yet it is worth questioning the asymmetry in this reasoning. If evil is merely a deficiency of good, could one ask, conversely, whether good is ever a deficiency relative to evil? If evil were a real force, then good might be understood as reactive or dependent, rather than foundational.
The answer is yes for there is no proof from logic or evidence that evil is not a real force. The denial that evil is more than a mere lack ignores the experience of people - the depressed who say they experience evil like a substance. The problem of a good God letting evil happen is according to some a contradiction. Others say it makes God implausible.
People must discuss if good might be a falling short of evil or that there could be a paradoxical interplay between the two.
APPENDIX
Good and Evil Depend on Each Other
Good and evil are usually defined in contrast to each other, so you can’t really have one without the other. If evil is acting without limits, fully going after what you want, then good can be seen as holding back—a “falling short” of that extreme.
The Role of Holding Back
Being good often means choosing not to do certain things that evil might go ahead and do. This self-restraint can be seen as a weaker version of the full force of human desire or impulse.
The Paradox of Being Virtuous
Being virtuous often means avoiding extremes or doing less than you could. In this way, good is kind of a limit on human potential—it’s a careful control of what you could do if there were no rules or moral limits.
Philosophy on Good and Evil
Some philosophers, like Nietzsche or Gnostic thinkers, saw evil as a bold, full expression of life, and good as holding back or following rules. Evil pushes outward and grows; good pulls back and restrains. This makes good seem like a “falling short” compared to evil’s full energy.
A Human Psychology Perspective
People’s creativity, ambition, and desires can lead to harmful or “evil” actions if left unchecked. Good actions are often moderated or restrained versions of these impulses—they show only part of what people could do if there were no limits.
Good as a Mirror of Evil
If evil is pushing something to the extreme, good is the opposite—it limits the same energy. This means good and evil aren’t completely separate; they reflect each other and exist on the same spectrum.
Choosing Good Means Giving Something Up
When we make moral choices, choosing good often means giving up the chance to fully act on power or desire. In that sense, good assumes that there is a more extreme alternative—evil—and exists as a choice to fall short of it.
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THE WEB
www.colorado.edu/philosophy/wes/Tooley2.html
THE ARGUMENT FROM EVIL AND THE EXISTENCE OF GOD by Michael Tooley.
http://www.nd.edu/~rpotter/courses/finitism.htm
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www.ffrf.org/fttoday/august97/barker.html
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