Often, malitia stems from a settled disposition. When someone repeatedly chooses vice, it becomes a habit, making it easier to choose "evil" deliberately in the future. Why It Matters Today
According to researchers like Ashley Dressel, malitia involves a "typology of sin" where the will plays the primary role:
Below is a blog post exploring this concept based on the scholarly work of Ashley Dressel and traditional Thomistic philosophy. Choosing the Shadow: Understanding the Concept of Malitia malitia
However, the concept of malitia suggests that human psychology is more complex. It highlights the —the idea that we are responsible not just for what we know, but for what we will . It challenges us to look at our habits and the "unfiltered strength" of our intentions, much like a powerlifter stripping away gear to find their true baseline. Conclusion
Unlike sins of (where we don't know better) or sins of passion (where our emotions overwhelm our reason), malitia is characterized by "willing viciousness". It is a sin committed out of a certain "malice" or a habit of vice. Often, malitia stems from a settled disposition
Early Career Research Spotlight: Ashley Dressel - Blog of the APA
The wrongdoer chooses a perceived "lesser good" (like personal gain or revenge) while fully aware that it violates a "greater good" or moral law. Choosing the Shadow: Understanding the Concept of Malitia
Understanding malitia shifts the conversation about ethics from "education" to "character." If all wrongdoing were just a lack of data, more "awareness" would solve every social ill.
