Some Thoughts on the Nature of Evil and Scam Victims – Especially Betrayal as an Evil Act – 2024
Some Thoughts on the Nature of Evil and Scam Victims – Especially Betrayal as an Evil Act
A Taxonomy of Evil – Helping Scam Victims to Understand the Evil That Was Done to Them
Primary Category: Philosophy of Scams
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Evil is a very complex concept, with philosophical, psychological, and moral dimensions, and understanding it can help scam victims process the harm done to them.
This taxonomy of evil categorizes harmful actions based on intent and impact, such as intentional evil, where harm is deliberate, and instrumental evil, where harm is a byproduct of another goal, such as greed or desperation. It’s important to separate evil acts from inherently evil individuals—scammers often act out of financial need or pressure, not intrinsic malice. Understanding this distinction is important for justice, rehabilitation, and emotional recovery for victims.
