The Real Definition of Evil: Bogusław Wolniewicz and the Theology of the Devil

This text is a profound philosophical analysis of Bogusław Wolniewicz's concept of evil. The author departs from the common understanding of the devil as a folkloric figure, proposing instead a realistic definition: the devil is the love of evil. This ontological proposition describes the fundamental structure of being, in which evil is not merely the absence of good, but an active, destructive force. The article explores the anthropology of the will, drawing on Schopenhauer's thought and rejecting Rousseau's Enlightenment optimism. A key element is the analysis of disinterested malice and the phenomenon of the epiphany of evil, which manifests itself in history and culture. Wolniewicz challenges rationalist interpretations, pointing to the irrational root of evil inherent in the very constitution of life, leading to a pessimistic yet reliable diagnosis of the human condition.