Evil is not limited to hurting other people. It also includes damaging the environment and damaging yourself. Evil can be described by several things: harmful, morally wrong, immoral, sinful, unwarranted, and malevolent. Moral evil and natural evil are two natures of evil and have key differences between them.
Moral Evil vs Natural Evil
The main difference between moral evil and natural evil is that Moral evil is caused by the intent to do evil. On the other hand, natural evil can be caused by nature (tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, floods, etc.), wild animals, and even humans. It is not intentional and therefore is natural.
Moral evil is the kind of evil that a person can commit. There are two ways a person could be immoral: doing something bad or intentionally or by not doing something good or intentionally. For example, you are guilty of moral evil if you are doing something you know is wrong, such as stealing or abusing someone.
Natural evil is a type of evil that occurs in the natural world. Something natural is a part of the natural order of things and, therefore, not punishable. For example, a hurricane is considered natural, even if it is causing massive amounts of damage. In case of massive loss, the hurricane is a natural evil.
Comparison Table Between Moral Evil and Natural Evil
What is Moral Evil?
Good moral character is something that people strive for. People who have good moral character are honest, kind, and generous. However, some people are immoral and do wrong. People can be immoral because they do not believe in morality or they have no concern for the consequences. This is called moral evil.
People who do evil do not want to do good. They may be stressed or unhappy and act out. These people are not good and are not respected by others. The Oxford English Dictionary defines moral evil as “evil resulting from human sin, as in politics, social conditions, etc., and arising from human actions that are wrong or harmful.”
A common example of moral evil is war; this is because war is the result of a nation’s human actions, and it is the actions of humans that are the root of war. In the same way, criminal action is the result of human action, so it could be argued that crime is, therefore, a form of moral evil. However, this is not true because other factors contribute to crime, and a crime can happen as a result of circumstance as opposed to human action.
In conclusion, moral evil is what results from human activity that is harmful to others.
What is Natural Evil?
Natural evil is a broad term to describe all of the events that are not caused by humans or anything else. One example of an event that is considered natural evil is wildfire. It occurs without anyone causing it, and it causes a great deal of damage. Another example is an earthquake, which is also an example of a natural disaster.
Natural evil refers to the events, tragedies, or natural disasters that happen that are beyond people’s control. Natural disasters can include floods, earthquakes, or tornadoes. Natural evil can be devastating to those affected by it. But there’s something that humans can all do to combat it: prepare.
That’s the reason there are first aid kits, emergency preparedness kits, and more. While natural evil cannot be controlled, we can be prepared for it when it comes to making the aftermath less devastating. Also, there is always a scope to be shielded from natural evil by means of precaution.
However, they are a part of the Earth’s life. They happened before we even existed, and they will continue to happen long after we’re gone. Though they can be devastating, they are important to appreciate.
Main Differences Between Moral Evil and Natural Evil
- Moral evil is done by human beings, and natural evil is done by external forces (for example, a tornado).
- Moral evil has to do with the action itself. It is wrong because people tell you it is. Natural evil is bad because it causes suffering and death.
- Moral evil is the type of evil where you choose to do the wrong thing. Natural evil is like a natural disaster: you can’t control whether it happens or not.
- You can abstain from doing something wrong, but you cannot prevent natural evil.
- While both evils are unanticipated, moral evil cannot be prepared for, but you can always take precautions from a fire or seek shelter in case of a hurricane.
- Moral evil is usually directed towards a set target, but natural evil is faced by everyone.
Conclusion
In the context of the Christian doctrine of original sin, natural evil is a natural occurrence that can cause physical or emotional harm, distress, or death. On the other hand, moral evil occurs when someone sets out to cause harm to another person and succeed.
Natural evil is the result of natural consequences; it is not a direct act of will. Man can neither cause nor prevent these consequences. Moral evil is the direct consequence of free choice. It is the object of the will. It is either an act or an omission. While natural evils are out of our control, one must abstain from moral evil to lead a healthy and prosperous life.
References
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Zv0mAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=moral+evil&ots=6MiUx_vfC7&sig=g3kmdZDsAGwkBaJmB4jJsJFeB4E
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9329.2006.00320.x