Katz's Paradoxes of Evil - Essay Example

of Learning: Very Ordinary Persons May Make Very Extraordinary Contributions to Evil Veryordinary persons may make very extraordinary contributions to evil. This is one of the five paradoxes forwarded by Katz. Indeed, how ironical it is to think that evil can only be committed by willing or premeditated persons. In everyday life, individuals find themselves doing things that they had not planned, others say things that they did not intend to say. In the end, they realize their doings when damage has been done.

Who is to blame for such happenings? We all end up saying that it is the devil that misled us ( Katz 120). In this paradox, Katz brings forth the different setting that a person works in; zealous, joyous, angered and under duress. Such setting may lead us to engage in evil deeds with or without our knowledge. Furthermore, our behaviors are unique; however, we are only guided by morals and principles. Contrary, morals are not universal, they are very personal for what may be right the one individual may be wrong in the beliefs and judgment of another.

As such, our behavior can lead us to act in either way that is good or evil. Therefore, it is important to know that committing evil doe s not require any skills and any person can commit evil knowingly or unknowingly. In support of this paradox, the bible is quotes Jesus telling a group of people who were condemning an individual for acting wrongly. He said that if any of them clearly knew that they were absolutely clean from evil then they should be the first to reprimand that condemned individual.

In the end none came forth for they all, knew that they had committed evil. According to James Waller a social psychologist, extraordinary evil is very weighty, as it may involve sins like mass murder, genocide among others. However, committing such evils may not require an extraordinary person. Most of the perpetrators of such acts have a starting point. As time passes when they are holding on small responsibility they gradually graduate to handle more and more responsibilities. In the end they have the capacity and machinery to commit the extraordinary evils (Waller n.p). In my own view, there are other factors that may lead an ordinary person to commit an extraordinary evil such as merging roles.

Naturally, the basic assumption is that if an individual is good they will act or behave in a good manner and if they are evil minded then they will engage in evil ways. Conversely, this assumption may not hold if a person is given merging roles. For example if a good person if delegated for duties that require them to undertake evil acts, as time passes the individual’s behavior is changed to evil. This is attributed to the fact the human beings tend to fit in their beliefs and feelings with their external behaviors (F. Katz 11). In conclusion the highlighted points make me deduce that there are a number of factors that may make an ordinary person to change and participate in committing extraordinary evil.

Wisely, there is no single person that is born being evil. It is through the growing process that a person isolates oneself through groups that their behaviors are shaped. Consequently, it is this shaping that defines who we are and what we are capable of doing. However, every person is subject to change in whichever direction they chose are they are subjected to.QuestionsA. How many perspectives do you engage?This text has focused mainly on two perspectives that is the communicative act and writing as a decomposable process.B. What other perspectives might you include?

The only perspective that may be added to this summary essay is the taxonomy of communicative act because; even if it has been used it has not been maximized on.C. How do you distinguish your views from the other views you summarize?In this text I have clearly indicated who is giving what view hence being clear on the speaker.D. Do you use clear voice signaling phrases?YesE. What options are available to you for clarifying who is saying what?The use of’ I’ and ‘according to’F. Which of these options are best suited for this particular text?

‘According to’Works CitedKatz, Fred. Ordinary People and Extraordinary Evil: A Report on the Beguilings of Evil. New York: SUNY Press, 1993. Print.Katz, Fred E. Confronting evil: two journeys. New York: SUNY Press, 2004. Print.Waller, James E. Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing. London: Oxford University Press, 2007.Print.