The Problem of Evil
12/23/2013
The Problem of Evil
Theologian: Augustine of Hippo, Philosopher: Plotinus,
1. Background
- Augustine failed to have the answer of the origin of evil from Cicero, Manichaeism.
- He tried to use the Neo-Platonic doctrine to explain the problem of evil.
2. Augustine’s explanation of the problem of Evil
a. The nature of evil; The evil is a privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.
b. The origin of evil: Augustine pointed that the free choice of the will is the reason of human being’s committing sin and suffering
3. The Premises to get to the solution
-‘God is all-good and all-powerful.
-The whole creation is good; “God created good creatures.” (Conf. 7, 5, 7)
4. Influence of Neo-Platonism on Augustine’s Theodicy
a. Understanding of God and evil in Neo-Platonism
-The Supreme Being, the ultimate One, is in one of its aspects the God; and evil has no place or part in it.Augustine: The nature of evil; the evil is privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.
b. Hierarchical system of Plotinus and Augustine’s adoption:-Plotinus system begins with the One, the supreme transcendent principle, which is immaterial and impersonal. The One is the ground of all being and source of all values. there proceeded by emanation Mind (nous)the next is the World Soul(psyche)the lowest level; Nature (Evangelical dictionary of theology, p. 821)
Augustine: “all natures, then, inasmuch as they are, and have therefore a rank and species of their own, and a kind of internal harmony, are certainly good” (City of God)
5. Evaluation
- The “privation” theory is not satisfactory. If God created all and governs all things, the privations as well as the actualities are within his plan.
-Augustine rejects the ancient Platonic, neo-Platonic, Gnostic and Manichaean prejudice against matter and lays the foundation for Christian naturalism that rejoices in this world which God created in His bountiful goodness.
Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that had made, and it was very good”
“But you had not yet ‘lightened my darkness’ (Psalms 17:29)”-Confession, 7. 1.2.
Theologian: Augustine of Hippo, Philosopher: Plotinus,
1. Background
- Augustine failed to have the answer of the origin of evil from Cicero, Manichaeism.
- He tried to use the Neo-Platonic doctrine to explain the problem of evil.
2. Augustine’s explanation of the problem of Evil
a. The nature of evil; The evil is a privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.
b. The origin of evil: Augustine pointed that the free choice of the will is the reason of human being’s committing sin and suffering
3. The Premises to get to the solution
-‘God is all-good and all-powerful.
-The whole creation is good; “God created good creatures.” (Conf. 7, 5, 7)
4. Influence of Neo-Platonism on Augustine’s Theodicy
a. Understanding of God and evil in Neo-Platonism
-The Supreme Being, the ultimate One, is in one of its aspects the God; and evil has no place or part in it.Augustine: The nature of evil; the evil is privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.
b. Hierarchical system of Plotinus and Augustine’s adoption:-Plotinus system begins with the One, the supreme transcendent principle, which is immaterial and impersonal. The One is the ground of all being and source of all values. there proceeded by emanation Mind (nous)the next is the World Soul(psyche)the lowest level; Nature (Evangelical dictionary of theology, p. 821)
Augustine: “all natures, then, inasmuch as they are, and have therefore a rank and species of their own, and a kind of internal harmony, are certainly good” (City of God)
5. Evaluation
- The “privation” theory is not satisfactory. If God created all and governs all things, the privations as well as the actualities are within his plan.
-Augustine rejects the ancient Platonic, neo-Platonic, Gnostic and Manichaean prejudice against matter and lays the foundation for Christian naturalism that rejoices in this world which God created in His bountiful goodness.
Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that had made, and it was very good”
“But you had not yet ‘lightened my darkness’ (Psalms 17:29)”-Confession, 7. 1.2.
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