PHIL 310(S) Evil
What is evil, and why does it exist? Can nature be evil, or is all evil attributable to the freely willed actions of human beings? Is evil compatible with God, or is it a powerful argument for atheism? Can evil be understood, or is it necessarily incomprehensible? These persistent and perplexing questions, which arise from the suffering of people in every time and place, have drawn the sustained attention of the greatest thinkers in the Western philosophical tradition. This course will examine some of the most important and influential responses to the problems that the existence of evil poses. We will begin with Leibniz, who coined the term "theodicy" to name the project of defending God from the charge that a truly perfect being could not have created a world that contains evil. Other authors to be considered may include: Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Voltaire, Hume, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud, Camus, and Arendt. In the course of our reflections we will discuss some of the events that make evil not merely an intellectual challenge, but also an immediate and pressing practical concern, including Auschwitz, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina.
Format: discussion. Requirements: several short assignments, final research paper, attendance, and participation. Prerequisites: Philosophy 101 or 102. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19). Preference to students majoring or intending to major in philosophy.
Hour: DUDLEY