Various attempts have been made to account for it in western philosophy as well as in world religions. Most of the issues discussed in contemporary african philosophy have their. Problem of evil 1 problem of evil in the philosophy of religion, the problem of evil is the question of how to reconcile the existence of evil with that of a deity who is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent see theism. If god were allknowing, it seems that god would know about all of the horrible things that happen in our world. Department of philosophy, ambrose alli university, ekpoma, nigeria. The first level will involve the ordinary, nonphilosophically minded africa s wlderstanding of evil. The discussion focuses on two of this problem s features. In doing so, it will define theodicy while explaining the works of augustine, irenaeus, and hick. Africana philosophy is the name for an emergent and still developing field of ideas and ideaspaces, intellectual endeavors, discourses, and discursive networks within and beyond academic philosophy that was recognized as such by national and international organizations of professional philosophers, including the american philosophical association, starting in the 1980s. Philosophers and theologians have recognized that to solve the problem of evil it is important to understand the nature of evil. God in yoruba belief and the theistic problem of evil john a. Response to the problem theists have articulated defenses, but generally cant advance theodicies complete explanations for evil. Many people immediately respond to the problem of evil, as stated above, by saying that the problem with the argument is that it ignores free well.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. A yoruba reflection on the theodicy embedded in princes sign o. The problem of evil the philosophical problem of evil is the challenge of reconciling belief in god with evil in the world. Native american and african philosophy 324 sexual politics.
Chung phi 2011 2 march 2006 the problem of evil to some evil is necessary for. Lets say that the proposition e is a report of all the facts about the evil in the world. In a recent book on the problem of evil, philosopher dan speak calls this the two pulls of evil. Unlimited viewing of the articlechapter pdf and any associated supplements and figures. The argument from evil that i will now construct has a very similar structure. Generally, a defense against the problem of evil may refer to attempts to defuse the logical problem of evil by showing that there is no logical incompatibility between the existence of evil and the existence of god. In the opinion of some philosophers, african philosophy, visavis western philosophy, african philosophy depicts no more than a particularist exemplar of the universal western philosophy. One of the important and most discussed problems in metaphysics and contemporary philosophy of religion is the philosophical problem of evil.
There are many false answers that are given to the problem of human suffering, yet which are inadequate. God in yoruba belief and the theistic problem of evil. As stated by mchugh 2006, the common ground of all who believe why god allows evil to prosper in this world is the freewill defence. Dec 24, 2009 read this philosophy essay and over 89,000 other research documents. Responses to the problem of evil have occasionally been classified as defences or theodicies. This investigation will revolve around two levels of perception. The problem of evil is not there there is so much evil in the world. The second feature is that it illustrates the claim that reflection on science is encouraging to particular and traditional. In recent times however, the philosophical discourses about the problem of evil has branched into the logical and evidential problems of evil, with scholars working within each andor both orientations. Matusek a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy department of philosophy college of arts and sciences university of south florida major professor. The problem comes from the fact that if there is a deity that is all good, all knowing and all powerful. There are actually a lot more proposed solutions to the problem of evil but i just chose 2 to keep things short.
The basic idea here is that at least many kinds of evil are not the result of gods actions, but of the free actions of human beings. The logical problem of evils early shape for contemporary analytic philosophy of. Just as it can be a reason and cause for unbelief, so, too, can the experience of evil be a catalyst for religious belief. One particular subject that many african philosophers have written about is that on the subject of. Journal of philosophy and culture a yoruba reflection on. Bewaji introduction in the pioneering works in african religious scholarship by indigenous and western. The existence of evil and suffering in our world seems to pose a serious challenge to belief in the existence of a perfect god. Ancient egyptian concepts of philosophy the first definition of a philosopher in world history. Evaluation students should work towards evaluating the problem of evil to see if there is a solution or what its implications might be. The african philosophy reader second edition a text with readings.
John and ken discuss the problem of evil with their guest, michael tooley from the university of colorado at boulder, coauthor of knowledge of god. The problem of evil in plotinus available for download and read online in other formats. Read this philosophy essay and over 89,000 other research documents. Mcbrayer presents and publishes widely in such journals as international journal for philosophy of religion, religious studies, and philosophical studies, and at conferences and programs around the world, such as the central european university summer program on moral intuitionism. This paper shall concentrate on african cosmology world view, the philosophical nature and foundation of african traditional religion, the concept of time and the worship of god in african traditional religion.
The theistic concept of god as supremely powerful, intelligent, and good makes the problem very difficult because such a being, it would seem, would make a much better world than this one. This fact of the intertwining of religion and secularity in africa has created a problem. The discussion focuses on two of this problems features. The problem of evil in augustines confessions by edward a. Bewaji introduction in the pioneering works in african religious scholarship by. Christian worldview perspective on the problem of evil. This lesson will explore the philosophical process of rectifying god with evil. The problem, in short, is that any axiological formulation of the argument from evil, as it stands, is incomplete in a crucial respect, since it fails to make explicit how a failure to bring about good states of affairs, or a failure to prevent bad states of affairs, entails that one is acting in a morally wrong way. The problem of evil 81 denial of god 82 two kinds of evil 82 denial of evil 83 the least of the evils 84 the aesthetic totality solution 85 the free. It must, gyekye argues, arise from african thought itself, relate to the culture out of which it grows, and provide the possibility of a continuation of a philosophy linked to culture. He stresses the importance of comparing plotinus and african philosophy. In this track, prince reflects over some of the horrendous evils in the world. As susan neiman argues in her book, evil in modern thought. Olusegun oladipo 2006 in core issues in african philosophy.
African philosophers may be found in the various academic fields of philosophy, such as metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and political philosophy. The problem of evil is not a problem at all unless good and evil are properly defined and meaningfully understood. In almost any book of philosophy of religion that deals with the problems of evil and pain and suffering in our world, one will find these answers discussed cushman, 1946, 1. Thus, if one considers a deity who is omniscient and morally perfect, but not omnipotent, then evil presumably would not pose a problem if such a.
Along the way, she distinguishes different ways in which people believe that god exists. The concept of evil stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Oyeshile department of philosophy, university of ibadan, ibadan, nigeria introduction the definition of philosophy has remained a perennial philosophical problem and there is little agreement as to what it is. Problem of evil responses introduction to philosophy. The question of unjust suffering has haunted modern thought. The problem of language in contemporary african philosophy. Analysis of an african reflections on evil joseph b. African traditional approach to the problems of evil in the world. We shall finally analyze briefly the concept of evil, ethics and justice in african traditional religion. I plantingas presentation of the free will defense is a landmark in contemporary discussions of the problem of evil. Download pdf the problem of evil in plotinus book full free. Published by the center for african studies, university of florida. Thinking it through an introduction to contemporary philosophy kwame anthony appiah.
Oct 05, 20 there are actually a lot more proposed solutions to the problem of evil but i just chose 2 to keep things short. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising world international journal of humanities social sciences and education ijhsse page 88 philosophy would be nothing more than asking and offering rational explanations of the universe. The author analyzes the theories of the natural structure and social organization of these views of the world. Logical problem of evil internet encyclopedia of philosophy. A short history of african philosophy peace palace library. Mchugh 2006, the same argument was put forward about the problem of evil. My view of the problem of evil is base on a biblical perspective. Abstract the paper is centered on what the average african calls evil and the efforts. Given that meaning is usage, lets look at what we usually do not absolutely consider to be the meaning of good.
The african philosophy reader peace palace library. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. How to respond to the problem of evil from the christian worldview. African progenitors have no idea of god and salvation. A journal of the department of classics and philosophy, university of cape coast. One claim in the book is that the theodicy problem has little bearing in africa since african mythology is based on a paradigm that is human, immediate, and practical. In this sustained and nuanced attempt to define a genuinely african philosophy, kwame gyekye rejects the idea that an african philosophy consists simply of the work of africans writing on philosophy. Africana philosophy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The problem of evil stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. For example, in both yoruba and igbo philosophy, as well as in the akan philosophical context, it is a given that the problem of evil is a substantive philosophical problem only within the western conception of evil and that such a problem does not hold much weight when situated within the african notion of evil.
An alternative history of end page 1 philosophy 2002, 1 the problem of evil most broadly understood is the problem of how to make sense of the world when that world is ineradicably a place of suffering 2. The problem centres on whether or not african languages can be used in doing contemporary african philosophy, where doing means teaching, writing and researching. With this criticism hountondji started an ongoing debate about the status of african philosophy, the status and value of ethnophilosophy, and the position of placide tempels in african philosophy. Africana is a more inclusive term for scholarship related to both africa and the diaspora. The problem of evil is of universal concern to humankind.
Problem of evil 2 natural evils, including earthquakes, tidal waves, and virulent diseases. Given the array of tracks inspired by various realities during prince roger nelsons popularly known as prince career, this study engages the philosophical problem of evil as well as the implied justification that africans had no idea of the divine as embedded in his sign o the times. It must, gyekye argues, arise from african thought itself, relate to the culture out of which it grows, and provide the possibility of a. Tool text in the judeochristianislamic traditions, one of the major problems for theists those who believe that there is a god is the problem of evil. A critical study of the major orientations in contemporary african philosophy. Review of christian faith and the problem of evil story he has told does not absolve god from moral criticism to explain why this is so, and anticipates that someone will object to his argument, that there will be a response to this objection, and so on, for so philosophy goes. Oxford new york auckland bangkok buenos aires cape town chennai. I use the term african to refer to scholarship that is specically concerned with the african continent and its cultures. As its objective, this article explores the moral issues arising from their traditional cultural perspective on evil.
Justin mcbrayer is an associate professor of philosophy at fort lewis college. Ancient history of african philosophy a companion to. The answer is nothing if you focus on the subject matter of those debates, but quite a bit if you focus on the structure of the reasoning in those debates. Reflection students should examine the offered solutions and discuss and reflect on their relative merit. By careful analysis the author shows that the doctrine of rebirth can satisfy the conditions already set forth as adequate for a solution to the problem of evil. Herman then turns in the second part of the book to the history of the problem of evil in indian thought.
The paper also considers the concept of evil, ethics, justice and time in african traditional. Special issue on feminist philosophy and the problem of evil. African philosophy is the philosophical discourse produced by indigenous africans and their descendants, including african americans. It also revolves around the question of the extent to which words and concepts in use in traditions of philosophy outside africa can be translated into indigenous african. The first feature of this problem is that it presents the most pressing and persuasive objection to belief in the existence of god.
This chapter discusses the character of a theistic answer to the problem of evil. Okello introduction 63 this article will attempt to investigate the problem of evil as perceived by the african mind. African philosophy, the status and value of ethnophilosophy, and the position of placide. The problem of evil 81 denial of god 82 two kinds of evil 82 denial of evil 83 the least of the evils 84 the aesthetic totality solution 85 the freewill solution 85 justice in the afterlife 86 gods mysterious ways 86 working out an answer 87 faith and reason. Pdf evil and its moral consequences are problematic as far as. The dynamic character of egyptian thinking on existence the egyptian conception of the universe. Nel morality and religion in african thought 36 pagan gods were ridiculed. Africana philosophy is the name for an emergent and still developing field of ideas and ideaspaces, intellectual endeavors, discourses, and discursive networks within and beyond academic philosophy that was recognized as such by national and international organizations of professional philosophers, including the american philosophical. The problem of evil cannot be solved philosophy essay. Two concepts that characterize the african concept of evilwitchcraft and sorceryare discussed extensively in the book. Many philosophers accept that plantinga successfully solves the logical problem of evil,11, as he appears to have shown that god and evil are logically compatible, though others demur12. Pdf the problem of evil in plotinus download full pdf. The meaning and nature of african philosophy in a globalising.