"As SSC put it, you have to think about whether people with different moral aims than you are just not clever enough to see you're right, or know they're wrong but hope to profit (mistake vs. conflict)."
Regarding "dumb v. evil", I've lately encountered this distinction:
"dumb people don't use moral concepts to get their way. They just sort of use brute force, bullying, you know they'll call names. But the smart people are the people, who use moral concepts in the service of evil. "
"As SSC put it, you have to think about whether people with different moral aims than you are just not clever enough to see you're right, or know they're wrong but hope to profit (mistake vs. conflict)."
Regarding "dumb v. evil", I've lately encountered this distinction:
"dumb people don't use moral concepts to get their way. They just sort of use brute force, bullying, you know they'll call names. But the smart people are the people, who use moral concepts in the service of evil. "
I've heard it in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-0V-gUuvW8
(at 18:15 min)
I transcribed the segment at my blog over here: http://tribeone.net/morality/how-to-malice-stupidity/
(If you like reading better.)