Ontological Reflective Evil: A Philosophical and Empirical Framework for Universal Ethics Based on Self-Empathic Reflection

This paper presents a new and comprehensive moral philosophical framework: Ontolog- ical Reflective Evil (ORE). This concept is defined as a conscious act inflicted upon others despite the perpetrator being fully aware that such an act would be considered unde- sirable if experienced by themselves, for any reason whatsoever. Distinct from ethics based on social norms or consequences, this framework is centered on self-empathic reflection as an intrinsic and universal moral measure. This paper makes significant improvements to the initial framework by integrating a more rigorous conceptual analysis, proposing a methodology for empirical validation, and addressing potential critiques. We use a concep- tual qualitative method through a comparative analysis of Kantian ethics, utilitarianism, Hannah Arendt’s notion of the banality of evil, Paul Ricoeur’s phenomenology of evil, and Thomas Nagel’s deontological reflections. The framework emphasizes the role of reflective awareness in distinguishing between moral errors caused by ignorance or systemic coercion and those rooted in the deliberate violation of existential values. Through these refine- ments, we aim to make this framework a more robust and solid tool for moral education, legal reform, and clinical assessment.