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In
Explaining Evil four prominent philosophers, two theists and two non-theists, present their arguments for why evil exists. Taking a "position and response" format, in which one philosopher offers an account of evil and three others respond, this book guides readers through the advantages and limitations of various philosophical positions on evil, making it ideal for classroom use as well as individual study.
Divided into four chapters,
Explaining Evil covers Theistic Libertarianism, Theistic Compatibilism, Atheistic Moral Realism and Atheistic Moral Non-realism. It features topics including free will, theism, atheism, goodness, Calvinism, evolutionary ethics, and pain, and demonstrates some of the dominant models of thinking within contemporary philosophy of religion and ethics.
Written in accessible prose and with an approachable structure, this book provides a clear and useful overview of the central issues of the philosophy of evil.
List of contents
Notes on Contributors
Acknowledgements
Introduction, W. Paul Franks (Tyndale University College, Canada)
1. Evil and Agent-Causal Theism, Richard Brian Davis (Tyndale University College, Canada)
Response to Richard Brian Davis
Paul Helm (Regent College, Canada)
Michael Ruse (Florida State University, USA)
Erik Wielenberg (DePauw University, USA)
Reply to Critics
2. Evil and Christian Classical Theism, Paul Helm (Regent College, Canada)
Response to Paul Helm
Richard Brian Davis (Tyndale University College, Canada)
Michael Ruse (Florida State University, USA)
Erik Wielenberg (DePauw University, USA)
Reply to Critics
3. Evil and Atheistic Moral Skepticism, Michael Ruse (Florida State University, USA)
Response to Michael Ruse
Richard Brian Davis (Tyndale University College, Canada)
Paul Helm (Regent College, Canada)
Erik Wielenberg (DePauw University, USA)
Reply to Critics
4. Evil and Atheistic Moral Realism, Erik J. Wielenberg (DePauw University, USA)
Response to Michael Ruse
Richard Brian Davis (Tyndale University College, Canada)
Paul Helm (Regent College, Canada)
Erik Wielenberg (DePauw University, USA)
Reply to Critics
Recommended Reading
Bibliography
Index
About the author
W. Paul Franks is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Tyndale University College, Canada. He has published in the Heythrop Journal, Philosophia Christi, Religious Studies and Sophia.
Summary
In Explaining Evil four prominent philosophers, two theists and two non-theists, present their arguments for why evil exists. Taking a "position and response" format, in which one philosopher offers an account of evil and three others respond, this book guides readers through the advantages and limitations of various philosophical positions on evil, making it ideal for classroom use as well as individual study.
Divided into four chapters, Explaining Evil covers Theistic Libertarianism, Theistic Compatibilism, Atheistic Moral Realism and Atheistic Moral Non-realism. It features topics including free will, theism, atheism, goodness, Calvinism, evolutionary ethics, and pain, and demonstrates some of the dominant models of thinking within contemporary philosophy of religion and ethics.
Written in accessible prose and with an approachable structure, this book provides a clear and useful overview of the central issues of the philosophy of evil.
Foreword
Four leading philosophers present, and defend, their explanations as to why there is evil and how their worldview best accounts for the amount and types of evil that is found in this world.
Additional text
What a splendid book this is! [A]ll four make many excellent points. Would that all academic debates could be conducted in such a respectful manner.
