"Saying something is evil is often a way of ending a conversation, stopping further analysis, letting ourselves be satisfied with thought-dulling mystery."

http://chronicle.com/article/Understanding-Evil/140025/

Understanding Evil

By James Dawes

"Evil" can be a sloppy word, an impediment to understanding. It means "bad" plus "unidentified metaphysical stuff." Saying something is evil is often a way of ending a conversation, stopping further analysis, letting ourselves be satisfied with thought-dulling mystery. "Evil" can also be a dangerous word. To say something is evil is to say it can't be understood; it can only be hated. We use the word "evil" when we need to prepare ourselves to do violence. Evil is the ultimate "other."

But to talk about these men, I need a word that insists there are acts that exceed our normal categories of wrong. I need a word that insists that, no matter how long you stare at it, no matter what light you put it in, there will always remain something beyond what you are able to see or say. These were evil men.