Why does evil exist in the world? Freedom, values, and personal responsibility.

Why does evil exist in the world? The question of why evil exists is not merely philosophical; it’s one that every person has a duty to answer. It’s not an optional curiosity but a civic and moral obligation. If you don’t formulate your own response, you surrender to others the power to decide what is good and what is evil—in your life and, by extension, in society. Furthermore, if you’re unable to define evil, to understand it, to recognize it, then you should question your capacity for discernment.

Humans have free will. Beyond doctrines, institutions, or traditions, each of us decides, based on our own values, what we consider good and what we consider evil. To outsource this responsibility—seeking a final verdict in the Bible or justifying it through an absolute authority—is absurd, even foolish. Not because spirituality is irrelevant, but because it cannot serve as a mandatory norm for everyone. The public sphere is not confessional; it is shared.

A key reason why each person must seek their own answer is the relativity of values in practice: what I consider good, another might consider evil. You might offer ten solid reasons to support your viewpoint, but I could present a single argument and conclude that what you call “good” is actually “evil.” Is it fair for you to change your opinion just because I deem your stance wrong or harmful? Is it right to silence you, to censor you, simply because your views offend me? This is precisely why opinions alone are not enough; understanding, information, and context are essential.

A case study that illustrates my perspective: abortion. There are those who are pro-choice and those who are anti-abortion. The latter don’t just express their opinions freely or exercise their right to free speech; they organize anti-abortion protests, sometimes aggressively, harassingly, or intimidatingly. Behind a woman’s freedom to decide what happens to her own body lies an ethical and professional framework: the medical oath (often generically called the “Hippocratic Oath”), professional codes of conduct, clinical guidelines, and legislation. In societies where abortion is legal, it is not an arbitrary act but a decision subject to clear ethical and legal terms, conditions, and procedures. To label this decision as “evil” without understanding the complexity of real-life situations—medical, psychological, financial, and social—is to turn ignorance into moral judgment. So, what’s worse: transforming ignorance into moral judgment or minding your own business and letting others decide for themselves what is good or evil?

Evil often emerges when we move from expressing an opinion to imposing it. It’s one thing to share your view; it’s another to criticize, harass, intimidate, or claim control over someone else’s life and body, believing that doing so makes you “better.” Evil also lies in ignoring facts, refusing to educate yourself, or reducing complex realities to convenient moral labels. On the other hand, if you’re unable to do this because you lack the capacity, should I consider that a form of evil, or should I try to understand you? And yet, if you can’t gather the information needed to understand a perspective, why should you be entitled to express your opinion? Shouldn’t you leave it to others who can gather the necessary data to make an informed choice?

Personally, I believe it’s never an easy decision, but I understand the necessity of such a choice—and I don’t say this just because I’m a woman. If I, as a woman, faced such a situation, I honestly don’t know how I would proceed. My heart might not allow me to take such a step, but it would also depend on factors that my mind, in this moment, cannot fully foresee. This is exactly why I believe I don’t have the right to decide for someone else. I defend every woman’s right to make an informed decision, within the bounds of law and medical ethics, based on the specific circumstances of her life.

Why not absolutes? Why not the Bible as law? There are countless theories about the origin of evil—metaphysical, theological, psychological, socio-economic. But why philosophize when things are straightforward? Society comprises people with diverse beliefs. When tensions arise between differing conceptions of good and evil, we don’t turn to scriptures or the Bible; we turn to legislation. The law is the common mechanism through which we set boundaries, protect rights, prevent abuses, and mediate moral differences between people with varying values.

To reduce everythingto human agency—the power to be, think, choose, and act—means accepting the consequences. Every decision can be criticized or praised; it can affect others; it can be regulated. This is where responsibility comes in: to inform ourselves, to weigh options, to understand context, and to accept that in the shared public space, our freedom intersects with the freedom of others. If something around you causes you harm, you have the absolute power to take action. Instead of accepting being a victim of constant evil, you can choose to leave, to improve your life. And if you can’t, there are alternatives—laws, organizations dedicated to helping people like you. You define evil through what you believe and feel, and it’s your duty to try to change it. Pointing fingers and labeling something as evil solves nothing, benefits no one—least of all yourself—and the law might even turn against you. Choosing to be a victim is a choice you make. You can fight against evil, turn your back on it and walk away, or accept it as part of your life. The consequences of your choices will stick with you.

Where do we draw the line between good and evil in society? In private life: through conscience, values, and personal reflection. In public life: through laws, not sacred texts. Legislation is refined democratically, with data, debate, and respect for human rights. That’s why human rights exist. We’re no longer in the days of Genesis, when no one could read or write, and a Moses was needed to deliver laws to guide people in distinguishing right from wrong.

So, why does evil exist in the world? Because we are free and different, and freedom without understanding, information, and respect for others leads to abuse. Evil takes shape when we treat our own perspective as absolute and refuse to view it from a distance or through multiple lenses. What is evil to one person isn’t necessarily evil to another, let alone to everyone. Why seek a universal answer that everyone must accept? This is precisely why each of us is obligated to find our own answer, refine it, subject it to scrutiny, discuss it when necessary, and live with the responsibility of its consequences. And where our moral paths diverge, we meet in a common place: the law. Not to erase convictions, but to coexist without harming one another.