Baruch Spinoza on Evil and an African Condition: a Philosophical Reflection
Baruch Spinoza on Evil and an African Condition: a Philosophical Reflection

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the problem of evil which has to do with the presence of pain, suffering, cruelty and wickedness in this world. The reality of evil is difficult to accept when we observe the presence of a God that is all powerful, all good: if God is all powerful then why not destroy evil immediately so all can rest? If God is all good then why tolerate what is not good? Does it mean God is not powerful enough or good enough? This is the logical problem of evil which we shall examine using Spinoza’s argument and an African condition. Our finding is that there is the evidential argument that seeks to convince us of a good God and a manageable world despite the uncontestable damaging presence of natural and moral evil across the earth. So we struggle to reconcile logic with reality. Since Spinoza removes God that is absolute, complete and perfect from evil that is finite, relative and a distraction and if true, then does it mean that what is evil may depend on how one sees it or who is affected? Can we say this for all categories of evil? We recommend a principled stand against evil through a definitional and contextual analysis that paves the way for a solution through key human values.

• Details
• Contents