Cruelty

Barbarity
Beastliness
Cruel people

Nature

Cruelty is the wilful infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering, i.e. pain and suffering that are not necessary to achieve morally important ends and thus cannot be justified by those ends. Cruelty is the infliction of pain and suffering for their own sake on any sentient creature that can experience pain and undergo suffering. It can be physical, emotional or spiritual. It can be directed toward humans or other animals and, some would suggest, toward plants. It is destructive toward both the perpetrator and the victim.

Incidence

Cruelty manifests globally in various forms, affecting individuals, animals, and communities. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1 in 4 adults report having been physically abused as children, and over 1 billion children worldwide experience violence annually, often involving acts of cruelty. Reports from the United Nations highlight that cruelty, including torture and inhumane treatment, persists in over 100 countries, despite international prohibitions.
In 2017, the Rohingya population in Myanmar suffered widespread acts of cruelty, including torture and sexual violence, during military operations in Rakhine State. The United Nations described these actions as "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing."

Claim

I cruelly hate cruelty, both by nature and judgement, as the worst of all vices. (Montaigne).

Counter-claim

Cruelty, while often highlighted, is not a significant problem in the grand scheme of societal issues. Many focus on it to distract from pressing concerns like poverty, education, and healthcare. The occasional acts of cruelty are overshadowed by the overwhelming kindness and compassion that exist in humanity. Instead of fixating on cruelty, we should channel our energy into fostering understanding and support, which will ultimately diminish the instances of cruelty more effectively.