Does one have to commit evil "acts" in order to be evil? Can one merely be, philosophically, emotionally, intellectually evil? Can one be evil due to their intentions and worldview, even in the absence of technically doing any evil "deeds"? Or is one automatically good, regardless of the state of their heart and mind, regardless of the thoughts they have, regardless of what they desire and how they consider or ignore the lives and needs of others, UNTIL the very moment in which they actually do something "bad"?
How many of these evil acts does it take for someone to BE evil? How evil does the act have to be? If I steal someone's wallet, am I now evil? If I kill one person in the heat of passion during a drunken rage, am I now evil?
Can I seethe with hatred of others and plot horrendous atrocities in the secret privacy of my own mind, but not ever technically do anything, and still be considered "good"?
I would never consider a person's private thoughts to be fair game for judging a person's nature. Thoughts cannot harm anyone other than possibly yourself.
As for actions, it's always a judgment call where one might draw the line, but I think it is possible to generate a consensus about what would be wrong versus bad versus evil.
