Responses to the Problem of Evil

Age of Mythology

Life and Death, good and evil are united in one Ironic Truth.

Homer: Achilles

Evil derives from insecurity about self which cannot bear humiliation.

Homer: Odysseus

Evil is the inevitable ‘trouble’ in life which provides the opportunity for heroism.

Socrates/ Plato

Evil is ignorance; the Soul is innate and good.

Aristotle

Evil is immoderate behavior; good is the mean between extremes.

Sophocles

Evil is innate and ineradicable, but we can take responsibility for it.

Ancient Hebrews

Evil stems from human disobedience (free will), but so does wisdom.

Epicurus

Evil is pain; good is pleasure.

Lucretius

Evil stems from the fear of death.

Jesus

Evil is unavoidable, but grace is possible.

St. Augustine

Evil is the absence of God.

Chaucer

Evil is the perversion of natural instinct.

Machiavelli

 

Macbeth

 

Shakespeare

 

Locke

 

Leibniz (Pope)

 

Rousseau

 

Voltaire