good-evil
Virtue versus vice
Good-evil describes something characterized by both moral virtue and wickedness, or the tension between them.
The hyphenated form typically appears in philosophical or literary contexts discussing the fundamental opposition: the good-evil dichotomy in Western thought, a good-evil struggle at the heart of the narrative.
Characters described as good-evil embody both qualities simultaneously.
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- viceBad habit or deputy
- sinViolation of divine law
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
wickedness · conscience · moral compass · right and wrong · corruption · integrity · depravity · purity
Unconscious rejected aspects
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- moral compassInner ethical guidance system
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- guiltMoral self-reproach
inner demons · shame · remorse · psychopath · empathy · cruelty · compassion · dark triad
Supreme spiritual authority
- SatanJudeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- angelsDivine winged messengers
- demonsMalevolent supernatural beings
- heavenSky or bliss
hell · divine · diabolical · sacred · profane · light and darkness · spiritual warfare · temptation
One admired for courage
- villainWicked story antagonist
- protagonistStory's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
redemption arc · corruption arc · moral journey · temptation · downfall · triumph · dark side · chosen one
Complementary opposing forces
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- polarityState of opposing forces
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
contrast · light and dark · cosmic struggle · Manichean · dualism · opposing forces · two sides · spectrum
ethics
Study of right conduct
righteousness · wickedness · conscience · moral compass · right and wrong · corruption · integrity · depravity · purity · temptation
shadow self
Unconscious rejected aspects
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- moral compassInner ethical guidance system
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
inner demons · guilt · shame · remorse · psychopath · empathy · cruelty · compassion · dark triad · moral development
God
Supreme spiritual authority
- SatanJudeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- angelsDivine winged messengers
- demonsMalevolent supernatural beings
heaven · hell · divine · diabolical · sacred · profane · light and darkness · spiritual warfare · temptation · original sin
hero
One admired for courage
- villainWicked story antagonist
- protagonistStory's central figure
- antagonistOne who opposes another
nemesis · redemption arc · corruption arc · moral journey · temptation · downfall · triumph · dark side · chosen one · savior
yin yang
Complementary opposing forces
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- polarityState of opposing forces
dichotomy · contrast · light and dark · cosmic struggle · Manichean · dualism · opposing forces · two sides · spectrum · binary
good-evilshades of gray
moral ambiguity · gray area · nuance · moral complexity · ambivalence
good-evilamoral
Without ethical concern
beyond good and evil · value-free · non-moral · natural phenomena
good-evilshades of gray
moral ambiguity · moral relativism · amorality · moral complexity · beyond good and evil
good, evil, goods, goodness, goodly, evils, evilly, evilness