The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings

by Michael L. Peterson (Editor)

Of all the issues in the philosophy of religion, the problem of reconciling belief in God with evil in the world arguably commands more attention than any other. For over two decades, Michael L. Peterson’s The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings has been the most widely recognized and used anthology on the subject. Peterson's expanded and updated second edition retains the key features of the original and presents the main positions and strategies in the latest philosophical literature on the subject. It will remain the most complete introduction to the subject as well as a resource for advanced study. Peterson organizes his selection of classical and contemporary sources into four parts: important statements addressing the problem of evil from great literature and classical philosophy; debates based on the logical, evidential, and existential versions of the problem; major attempts to square God's justice with the presence of evil, such as Augustinian, Irenaean, process, openness, and felix culpa theodicies ; and debates on the problem of evil covering such concepts as a best possible world, natural evil and natural laws, gratuitous evil, the skeptical theist defense, and the bearing of biological evolution on the problem. The second edition includes classical excerpts from the book of Job, Voltaire, Dostoevsky, Augustine, Aquinas, Leibniz, and Hume, and twenty-five essays that have shaped the contemporary discussion, by J. L. Mackie, Alvin Plantinga, William Rowe, Marilyn Adams, John Hick, William Hasker, Paul Draper, Michael Bergmann, Eleonore Stump, Peter van Inwagen, and numerous others. Whether a professional philosopher, student, or interested layperson, the reader will be able to work through a number of issues related to how evil in the world affects belief in God.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Nonfiction

609 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 1992

Reviews

[Zach Waldis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thought provoking collection. The latter essays get bogged down in philosophical jargon, but on the whole a great survey of an important and timely topic.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deep plowing is one term that might describe this work. It will require time to think through the arguments that Peterson presents. He deals with the are of theodicies, with the free will defense postulated by Alvin Plantinga, he also covers David Hume´s argument for atheism, and a host of other hugely significant ideas realted to the matter of evil in the world. The table of contents is a valuable read by itself! It will help you see the broad spectrum ahead.
Since I read this work for a graduate class, I did not read all 32 chapters. It was a selected reading. Therefore I will only venture to give some personal thoughts about the book.
1. The matter of evil is NOT simply "cut and dried." Peterson substantiates that clearly.
2. The proposed solutions to the existence of evil ALL have some weakness. Some have little or nothing to salvage.
3. Christians are possibly the most guilty of dismissing or over simplifying the existence of evil in the world. This causes them (us) to miss the gravity of the problem and dismiss it too soon. We may need to be more honest and less in a hurry to "solve" the problem of evil and be ready to listen to those struggling with it more truthfully.
4. Evil is defeated in the world, but HOW it is defeated remains to be a problem for many.
5. The other outstanding authors quoted here (Plantings, Swinburne, Stump, Peters, Van Inwagen and Diller...) are brought together and provide much to discuss and meditate.

The book is worth the price! The book will be one you read more than once, of that I am certain. But you may change your mind after the third or fourth reading. It will be an encounter with hard but worthwhile issues.

DR

[B Dohle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for a Problem of Evil class I'm teaching. I thought it would include readings from all kinds of views of the Problem of Evil.
It did not.
It's very Christian-centric. The editor(Mr. Peterson) includes an article he wrote which is one of the worst articles included in the 2nd edition of the book. He writes the first "theology" piece in the book, a hallmark that he continues by choosing authors and pieces that match this description.
By theology I mean... the theodicy requires knowledge of Christianity in order to understand it. Without that knowledge, it doesn't make any sense. I'm teaching a class that's 100% not Christian which means that concepts like Atonement and Incarnation (yes, those are actually used in a theodicy in this book) have to be explained along with what the "triune God" means.
There are atheist writers included, but only modern atheists and only those who are specifically mentioned by Christian authors. John Paul Sartre and Albert Camus make no appearance in this book. Neither do other authors who aren't theist or do not match the editors limited theology.
But authors who are Christian are included. Some even twice. William Hasker gets two of his articles in his book. They're some of the worst we've read thus far.
If you're looking for a recommendation for a college class, I'd recommend this book as part of a larger selection of theodicies. Find Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and secular writers to suppliment your material. This book covers the Christian response, but in a very limited way.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to the Problem of Evil as set forth in contemporary philosophy. I originally read this book for a course in 2005, and it was published in 1992. Twenty five years later, it could use an update, although most of the work does not suffer from age. I found parts three and four to be particularly useful, although I did find Lewis Ford's excerpt on Process Theodicy to be lacking. While it is clear from the introduction that Mr. Peterson takes a certain side on the Problem of Evil, I found the readings to be pretty even-handed in regards to showing the best of both the theistic and atheistic thought. I think those that come into this book with a selected view will be challenged, no matter what that view is.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, by far, my favorite anthology of philosophical writings. The point-counter-point style is engrossing, the writers more than competent and thorough, and the points thought-provoking. A must read for both the fiercely secular and apologist types. In terms of an overview of Western thought on the topic, it's both accessible and well put-together.

[Heidi Creasman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read it for a class.

[Benjamin Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for this topic! This book gives a wide array of perspectives and allows the reader to quickly get a grasp of the contemporary and classic literature on the Problem of Evil. Both theists and atheists will have their views challenged.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far this is a good yet challenging book to read. This book looks at the problem of evil, from many different angles.

[Don B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Not light reading, for sure. A bit pedantic in places, but a very good intellectual stretch that requires your attention.