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CE specifically goes out of its way to be evil, though. What you described is CN. CE characters would be your standard "mad scientist" from a 90's cartoon.
It's only 'real evil' if it is done for the sake of evil itself? Thats a pretty hot take.
That's a pretty hot take
It's literally what the player handbook (well, 3rd edition at least) describes CE as...
Srd on CE characters:
Chaotic Evil, “Destroyer”
A chaotic evil character does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. [...] If he is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal.
Evil is not a religion or a life philosophy in third edition anymore. A CE character does not need to commit evil for the sake of evil, they need just to be 'out for whatever [they] can get'. Think about the typical CE goblins.