Examining the problem of evil in the views of John Hick and Alvin Plantinga

arash rostami ¹ (خ امام خمینی)
Mohammad Akvan ² (Islamic Philosophy and Theology Department, Literature & Humanity faculty, Tehran, Iran)

Submited date : 2023-06-17 accepted date : 2023-12-18

Keywords: Analytical philosophy, Shar, Nizam Ahsan,

Abstract :

Examining the problem of evil in philosophical, theological and logical systems has long been the basis of extensive debates that have lasted until the present day. The explanation of the good system has been done not only from the point of view of the theologians of Abrahamic religions, but also from the ancient Greek philosophers, and accordingly, one of the most sensitive and at the same time the most complex elements of the discussion is the need to explain the nature of evil or the evil thing and its relationship with the goodness of the system. It has always been a source of controversy. The necessity of this discussion has caused the writing of this article with a descriptive-analytical method and with a comparative approach between the opinions of two contemporary religious philosophers, John Hick and Alvin Plantinga, with the aim of identifying their opinions about the concept, nature, and place of evil in the divine system. Is. The theoretical expansion of the views of these two and the formulation of the concept of evil among their structural thoughts shows that sometimes this concept has been the basis of structural similarities regardless of differences in viewpoints. John Hick believes that evil as an existential matter is not only the negation of the good system and does not negate the religious characteristics of God as the source of knowledge, power and absolute generosity, but is basically the founder of the spiritual and intellectual excellence of man.