The History of Being Human

The conclusion to the worst people ever series winds up falling to Godwin's Law. This is one of those rare cases where cliche, popular opinion, and received knowledge happen to be absolutely right: Hitler was as bad as human beings get. Aggressor and instigator of world's most deadly war. Instigator of thuggery and riots. Murderer of former friends. Head of the coldest, most clinical and industrial, act of mass murder in history. Prancing ranting provocateur. Mama's boy.

The Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 and The Holocaust  What do these events have in common? They were both seminal events that challenged two different eras relationship to, and understanding of, evil.  Today I speak with Dr. Susan Neiman, director of The Einstein Forum, devotee of the enlightenment, moral crusader (well, sort of?), and author of "Evil in Modern Thought: An Alternative History of Philosophy."

Know Thyself 27: 2nd Worst Ever -- The Man of Steel

Know Thyself 2: The Cannibal Colonists of Jamestown

Know Thyself 26: 3rd Worst Ever -- The Wrath of Khan

Know Thyself 25: The Sins of Sam Harris

Know Thyself 24: 4th Worst Ever -- The Necro-Nazi

Know Thyself 23: 5th Worst Ever -- The Lab Rat

Know Thyself 22: 6th Worst Human Ever: Iron Man

Know Thyself 21: Dr. Paul Zak on Connection, Trust, and a Life of Meaning

Know Thyself 20: 8th and 7th Worst Ever: Darya Saltykova and Elizabeth Bathory

Know Thyself 19: Philosopher Todd Calder on Evil

Know Thyself 18: 9th Worst Human Ever: Christopher Columbus "Inhumanities and Barbarisms"

Know Thyself 17: 10th Worst Human Ever: Eyewitness Account of Jim Jones from Jonestown Survivor Laura Johnston Kohl

Know Thyself 16: Dr. Robert Price, The Bible Geek, on Biblical Conceptions of Evil