Explaining Evil: Four Views

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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.

Reviews

The tone is civil, but the critical interactions are lively and uninhibited ... The book is rounded out with an excellent recommended reading section and an extensive bibliography emphasizing recent (some of it very recent) literature. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *
This an outstanding book on the problem of evil. Instead of addressing the enduring debate over the value of evil as evidence against theism, the contributors to this book consider how evil fits into their theistic or atheistic perspectives. Anyone interested in the problem of evileven those who feel that they have already read enough about the topicshould find the book intriguing and eye-opening. * Yujin Nagasawa, Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the John Hick Centre for Philosophy of Religion, University of Birmingham, UK *
Encountering Evil is an interesting volume, and worth a read. The book provides a concise overview of four approaches relevant to discussions of human morality, and relevant to discussions of the problem of evil. The book would provide a useful textbook for an undergraduate seminar on theism and morality, or a seminar on the problem of evil. * International Journal of Philosophical Studies *
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. * Theology *

Author Bio

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.