A Conversation With ChatGPT on Good vs. Evil
By Linda Negrin, Energy Medicine Practitioner
To say we live in troubled times seems to be an understatement. Shadow forces appear to be getting stronger. The vibration from challenging events around the globe can disturb our energy, whether we may be conscious of it or not. “Stress” doesn’t even seem to be a sufficient word for what is being felt by many of us at the core of our beings. We may be finding it difficult to see “good” making headway against “evil.”
For those on a spiritual path, good and evil present intriguing conundrums. “Conundrum” is deftly defined by ChatGPT as “the crossroads of the soul where clarity is veiled and the mind cannot untangle what only the heart can understand. Those moments when logic falters, and deeper wisdom is called forth—an invitation to surrender certainty and seek truth beyond appearances.”
So how do we define “good” from a spiritual perspective? Again, from ChatGPT: “‘Good’ is the natural expression of divine truth, love, and harmony in action. Spiritually, it is not merely moral behavior but the manifestation of unity, wholeness, and inner peace—a force that nurtures life and honors the sacred in all beings.”
And how does AI spiritually define “evil”? “‘Evil’ is a distortion of truth that arises from fear, ignorance, or the willful denial of love. Spiritually, evil is not a force equal to good but a shadow cast when the light of awareness is obscured. It manifests through actions or intentions that harm, divide, or diminish the sacredness of life.”
I found myself questioning whether or not good can ultimately triumph over evil—and if it ever truly has throughout history. I asked ChatGPT to give me examples of historical events where good was victorious over evil forces. This question led to an enlightening conversation with AI, which I present here in its entirety for your information and contemplation.
A Conversation with ChatGPT, June 19, 2025
Linda Negrin: Please provide me examples from history when good has triumphed over evil.
ChatGPT: Certainly. Here are some powerful historical examples where good triumphed over evil—where justice, human rights, or moral courage prevailed over oppression, cruelty, or injustice:
1. The Defeat of Nazi Germany (1945)
Evil: The Nazi regime, responsible for the Holocaust and starting World War II, led to the deaths of over 60 million people.
Triumph of Good: The Allied victory brought an end to the genocide, freed concentration camp prisoners, and led to the establishment of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. The Abolition of Slavery (19th Century)
Evil: The transatlantic slave trade and systemic enslavement of millions of Africans.
Triumph of Good: Abolitionist movements, led by figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and William Wilberforce, resulted in the abolition of slavery in the U.S. (1865), Britain (1833), and other nations.
3. The Civil Rights Movement (1950s–60s, U.S.)
Evil: Institutionalized racism, segregation, and violence against African Americans.
Triumph of Good: Peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and legal victories (led by Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and many others) led to the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965).
4. The Fall of Apartheid in South Africa (1994)
Evil: A system of racial segregation that oppressed the non-white population.
Triumph of Good: Decades of resistance led by Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and others ended apartheid and established a democratic government.
5. India’s Nonviolent Independence Movement (1947)
Evil: Colonial rule that exploited India for over a century.
Triumph of Good: Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance movement led to India’s peaceful independence from British rule.
6. The Nuremberg Trials (1945–1946)
Evil: War crimes and crimes against humanity during WWII.
Triumph of Good: For the first time, world leaders were held accountable for genocide and atrocities, laying a foundation for international law and justice.
7. The End of Child Labor in Many Nations
Evil: Exploitation of children in dangerous and inhumane working conditions.
Triumph of Good: Social reformers like Florence Kelley and labor movements helped pass child labor laws and establish mandatory education.
8. Women’s Suffrage (early 20th Century)
Evil: Denial of basic political rights to women.
Triumph of Good: Decades of activism by women’s suffrage leaders (like Susan B. Anthony, Emmeline Pankhurst) led to women gaining the right to vote in many countries (e.g., U.S. in 1920, U.K. in 1918/1928).
9. Overthrow of Dictators (e.g., Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989)
Evil: Oppressive regimes and denial of freedoms in Eastern Europe.
Triumph of Good: Peaceful revolutions, civic resistance, and the courage of everyday citizens led to the collapse of communist dictatorships and the reunification of Germany.
10. The Eradication of Smallpox (1980)
Evil: A deadly disease that killed millions.
Triumph of Good: International cooperation and scientific innovation led to the complete eradication of smallpox, one of the greatest public health victories in history.
LN: Regarding Number 1 above—defeat of Nazi Germany: how can this be considered a triumph when today Nazism is alive and well, and genocide continues?
ChatGPT: This is a deeply insightful question—and a painful one. You're absolutely right to ask it.
The defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 was a triumph, but not a final victory over evil. It was a military, legal, and moral stand against one of the most extreme forms of organized hatred the world had seen. But it did not eradicate hatred, racism, or the human capacity for cruelty. Here's how we can hold both truths at once:
✔️ Why it was a triumph:
The Nazi regime was dismantled. Its military and political power was crushed, and its leaders were tried and condemned at Nuremberg.
Millions of lives were saved. Though tragically late for many, the liberation of concentration camps and occupied nations stopped further horrors.
Global systems of accountability were created. The United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international laws against genocide were born out of this reckoning.
❌ Why it was not the end of evil:
Neo-Nazism and white supremacy still exist. These ideologies were never fully eradicated and have resurfaced in recent years, often rebranded but rooted in the same hate.
Genocides have continued. Rwanda (1994), Bosnia (1990s), Darfur (2000s), the Uyghurs in China, and others are reminders that genocide didn't end with Hitler.
Structural and systemic hate persists. Anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and political extremism remain woven into many societies.
LN: So how do we reconcile this?
ChatGPT: By recognizing that each triumph of good is provisional, not permanent. Evil adapts. But so does good. The defeat of Nazi Germany was a turning point—proof that humanity can rise against the darkest forces. But each generation must renew that effort.
Triumphs are not finish lines—they’re torch passes. We celebrate them not because they ended evil, but because they remind us that it can be confronted, resisted, and rolled back.
LN: What does it take for good to truly triumph?
ChatGPT: This is the heart of the human story—and one of the most important questions we can ask. There’s no single answer, but throughout history, patterns emerge. Good truly triumphs not just when evil is defeated, but when conditions are created where it cannot easily return. That takes more than heroes or moments—it takes transformation.
Here are the essential ingredients:
1. Courageous Moral Action
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." — often attributed to Edmund Burke. Good triumphs when people choose conscience over comfort. Whether it's a whistleblower, a protester, a teacher, or a soldier—moral courage shifts the world.
2. Collective Awakening
Good becomes powerful when many awaken to injustice—not just the oppressed, but the bystanders. Civil rights movements, revolutions, and humanitarian efforts succeed when the majority refuses to stay silent.
3. Structural Change
Evil often hides in laws, institutions, and systems. Real triumph means rewriting rules—abolishing unjust laws, creating fair systems, and designing safeguards that protect rights across generations.
4. Healing and Reconciliation
Good doesn’t just punish evil—it also seeks healing. Post-genocide Rwanda, South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission—these efforts show that restorative justice and acknowledgement of harm are vital for long-term peace.
5. Education and Truth
Sustained good requires memory. Teaching history honestly, elevating critical thinking, and encouraging empathy are how we inoculate society against recurring injustice.
6. Justice that is Fair, Not Vengeful
Good doesn’t become truly triumphant by flipping the oppressor/oppressed dynamic. It upholds dignity—even for those who failed to show it. Justice must be principled, not vindictive.
7. Visionary Leadership
From Gandhi to Mandela, from Malala to Martin Luther King Jr., leaders who call people toward shared humanity light the path. They make the invisible possible, visible.
8. Ongoing Vigilance
Triumph is not a static state. Evil can creep back in slowly, quietly. Good wins in the long run only when citizens remain active, informed, and engaged.
In short: good truly triumphs when it becomes the culture, not just the victory. When people internalize justice, compassion, and responsibility—not because they're told to, but because they see themselves in others.
Author Information:
Linda Negrin, has been an Energy Medicine Practitioner for more than 20 years. Trained and certified in Pranic Healing®, her work incorporates Arhatic Yoga, Buddhism, Advaita and the Direct Path. Currently she is studying plant medicine with Greg Toews of Plant Prana Oils. In addition, Linda is the Program Coordinator at The Practical Path®. For more information about Linda, visit her website at https://www.cultivateinnerpeace.life