Simple and straightforward

"My definition of evil, like just about everything else about me, is simple and straightforward: if you knowingly hurt another human being without significant cause, like self-defense, you are committing and evil act." - page 59

This quote by Bill O'Reilly leaves an important variable for the definition of evil. He states that if you knowingly hurt someone its considered evil. So does that mean that if you unknowingly hurt someone its perfectly fine? The Nazis were the most evil people to have ever existed in my opinion. Some of which contributed to the actions that occurred without directly knowing. So these bystanders unknowingly supported the murdering of millions of innocent people. Even though they did not know, I personally consider these people to be evil in nature. So in some way there is a loophole to his personal definition, and a major one if I might add.

Also, since he said that his outlook is "simple and straightforward" there isn't much room for variation, in a way everyone is evil. No one can live a perfect life without sin. No matter how small or insignificant, everyone is considered evil by this "simple and straightforward" definition. Later in this book O'Reilly tells us of past experiences that depict him as "evil" if we were to use his own definition. Now does he consider himself evil? Well I certainly don't this so as most people don't.

After finishing his segment on evil I came to my own conclusion that nothing can be defined by a simple and straightforward way. No matter the patriotism or honor in defining things such as evil, there can be no simple answer.