The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings

by Michael Peterson and Michael L. Peterson

Book Overview

Of all the issues in the philosophy of religion, the problem of evil arguably commands more attention that any other. This text, which is broad in scope, is organized in a way that clearly exhibits the main structure of the overall problem as it has been treated in Western theistic traditions generally and the Christian tradition specifically.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0268015147
• ISBN13: 9780268015145
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Good Introduction to the Problem of Evil

This book is a nice general introduction to the problem of evil. It is divided into four major parts: (1) classic statements of the problem, (2) versions of the problem of evil, (3) perspectives in theodicy, and (4) issues in the problem of evil. The first section includes excerpts from Hume, the Book of Job, Dostoevsky's _The Brothers Karamazov_, and Elie Wiesel's _Night_. This is a good way to make the seriousness of the problem vivid for those who are unfamiliar with it. The second section clarifies the problem by demonstrating that it can be thought of in (at least) three distinct ways: as a logical problem, an evidential problem, or an existential problem. As in the first section, the articles chosen for this section are quite gripping. Some of the philosophers reprinted in this section are J.L. Mackie, Alvin Plantinga, and Marilyn M. Adams. The third section introduces three main approaches to solving the problem: Augustinian theodicy, Irenaean theodicy, and process theodicy. This is a tidy way to organize many attempts to solve the problem. Some of the philosophers reprinted in this section are Augustine, John Hick, and Lewis Ford. The final section is a bit of a catch-all, but it seems necessary. Here we find articles directly addressing such issues as natural evil and whether it is necessary for God to have created the best possible world. Some of the philosophers reprinted in this section are Robert Adams, Richard Swinburne, and Eleonore Stump. The main strengths of this book are (1) it includes a great deal of motivation for the problem of evil - enough to inspire real concern; (2) the articles selected are fairly well balanced between attempts to solve the problem and rejections of such attempts; and (3) it has sufficient breadth to help the newcomer understand (and categorize) any further reading he does on this subject. I highly recommend it as an introductory text for a class on the problem of evil - perhaps supplemented by some additional journal articles that are more up-to-date. I think it is also a good first book for those who are generally concerned about the problem of evil.