How do we define evil? How do we confront evil in our own lives? How does the use of the word “evil” sometimes become skewed or politicized?

These are some of the questions addressed in Naming Evil, Judging Evil, a book written collaboratively by nine Duke faculty from a range of disciplines, including history, political science and philosophy. Ruth Grant, Institute Senior Fellow and Professor of Political Science, spearheaded the project and served as editor.

The idea for the book grew out of Grant’s own interest in the topic. She knew it was on the minds of her colleagues, based on conversations and reading papers they had written. For a year and a half, Grant and many of the other faculty members met regularly for lunchtime discussions, and the process culminated in a conference where scholars in many disciplines from outside Duke came to comment on draft chapters. The book was published in October 2006.

In 2007-08, Grant again convened an interdisciplinary group of Duke faculty, this time to tackle questions about goodness. How can we expand the discussion of goodness beyond the usual dichotomies: egoism vs. altruism, moral character vs. moral rules, good behavior vs. beneficent will? What does it mean to live a good life under conditions of extreme political repression? What does ordinary goodness, expected of everyone, have in common with saintliness, heroism or innocence? These are some of the questions that were addressed at a working conference in February 2009. The project will culminate in a collection of essays, “In Search of Goodness.” Read more about this project or watch a video of Grant discussing the limits of selflessness.