Paper
Throughout human existence, questions have arisen concerning the nature of good and evil. Many scientist, philosophers, and theologians have been intrigued by these questions. Through Augustine’s Confessions and E. O. Wilson’s In Search of Nature, one is accessible to two distinct perspectives concerning the nature of good and evil.
Augustine sets up an argument in his Confession that attempts to define evil. God is the author of everything. Augustine says, “nothing that exists could exist without You [God]” (Book I, Chapter II). Nothing in this world exists apart from God.
For Augustine, God is good because everything He made is good. Everything about God is good. No aspect of Him is lacking, false, or not good. However, the question of evil and from where it came still remains.
Augustine then asks himself where it was that evil came. Evil could not have come from God; it must have come from another source other than God. Because we clearly see evil in this world, did God allow it to enter? This would seem that God is not omnipotent.
Originally Augustine believed that evil had substance. However, his views changed later where he says, “If they were deprived of all goodness, they would be altogether nothing; therefore, as long as they are, they are good. Thus whatsoever things are, are good; and that evil whose origin I sought is not a substance” (Book VII, Chapter XII). Under this definition, Augustine is saying that evil has no substance. Instead, evil is the result of a removal of good until there is nothing left at which time the object or person would cease to exist in the physical realm.
Augustine approaches this issue from an entirely different perspective. He asks: Do we have any good evidence that God exists? If He does, is He good? Since all that God created is good and evil is not good, then evil is not something that God created. This was Augustine’s solution, but the question still remains: What is evil?
He observed that everything God made is good and when you take away from goodness from something God made, we call that condition evil. Another way of putting it is that evil is the lack of good. In this solution, good has substance whereas evil does not; it is merely good that is missing. If it does not have any substance, then it does not require a creator. To say that something is evil is a shorthand way of saying it lacks goodness. Augustine goes on to explain how such a thing can be, and gets into a discussion about free will.
E. O. Wilson’s In Search of Nature, specifically “The Serpent”, displays evil in terms of the Serpent. “The snake’s image enters the conscious and unconscious mind with ease during reverie and dreams. It appears without warning and departs abruptly, leaving behind not a specific memory of any real snake but the vague sense of a more powerful creature” (Wilson 5). One may observe that evil can slip into man at any given moment without man’s knowledge of it. Before man senses that the evil is there, the evil departs abruptly; therefore, the man is left without recollection of it, but a sense of something more powerful.
Wilson builds upon the idea that evil is the accretion of fear and beliefs when he describes the wonder the Serpent invokes stating, “even the deadliest and most repugnant creatures are endowed with magic in the human mind” (Wilson 6). He proceeds to describe the wide variety of snakes throughout the world and emphasizing their important role as an image of evil when he says, “around the world serpents and snakelike creatures are the dominant elements of dreams in which animals of any kind appear” (Wilson 9).
One can sense that Wilson’s said characteristics of snakes, “slyness, deception, malevolence, betrayal, the implicit threat of a forked tongue”, can be compared of those of evil. When one thinks of evil, does one not think about being sly, deceptive, malevolent, or betrayed?
Wilson creates a scientific picture introducing the Serpent as the “bridge” between “biology and culture” (Wilson 5) and thus a permanent depiction of our worldly view of evil. It is through our myths and legends together with fear of the unknown beyond our deaths, Wilson argues, that we as humans concoct a tangible depiction of evil. Augustine offers a different perspective referring to Christian doctrine, finally concluding that evil exists only as the absence of good or absence of God, stating “to Your [God] whole creation likewise, evil is not” (Book VII, Chapter XIII). Although the theories seem essentially divergent, it is clear throughout both narratives that evil is intrinsically unknown, that it is our own fears that proceed to make it into a power or substance and yet we as human beings have no way of proving or disproving its being.
Другие работы по теме:
Macbeth Essay Research Paper MacBeth the protagonist
Macbeth Essay, Research Paper MacBeth, the protagonist, in the play MacBeth by William Shakespeare was a dynamic character. He changed from an admired, loyal, courageous, loved man in the beginning to a tragic, jealous, selfish character in the end. MacBeth is both good and evil, even though he used more evil than good.
St Augustine Essay Research Paper Saint Augustine
St. Augustine Essay, Research Paper Saint Augustine, who lived in the late 4th and early 5th centuries, created a very interesting perspective on the notion of evil. Augustine first views of evil followed the doctrine of the Manichaen Dualists?. Their idea was that there were two omnipotent forces, good and evil, constantly fighting.
Motif Of Romeo And Juliet Essay Research
Paper If I accidentally caused a car wreck that destroyed a person’s car, I would be considered in the wrong, the antagonist. If after the accident it was discovered the person had been on their way to blow up and embassy or something, I would be considered a hero. Any act can be considered honorably and just, if it results in a greater good than existed before the act.
Grendel Essay Research Paper From the poem
Grendel Essay, Research Paper From the poem Beowulf i cant tell if the character Grendel is truly evil. I know that he is not good because he kills people yet this does not let me know that his soul is evil.
God Essay Research Paper God is allgood
God Essay, Research Paper ?God is all-good, God is all-powerful, and yet evil exists.? (Mackie, 90) The stated are three premises that are true. Truth lies in the explanation for why evil exists. The origin of sin is the explanation for the evil and suffering that people and nature bring on mankind. Once cannot doubt the existence of God based on principles that He has permitted to exist in mankind.
Evil From Morals Essay Research Paper Evil
Evil From Morals Essay, Research Paper Evil From Morals By textbook definition, evil is “What is morally wrong, what hinders the realization of good” (Webster). If that is evil, then what is good? It’s “what
Good Vs Evil In Harry Potter And
The Sorcerer?S Stone Sorcerer?S Stone Essay, Research Paper ?Good vs. Evil ? In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer?s Stone by J.K. Rowling there are many cases of good vs. evil. Here there are the humans that have no magical powers. And there are the humans, which have magical powers. The humans with no magical powers are referred to as the muggles and the humans with magical powers are referred to as wizards and witches.
Grendel Essay Research Paper Good versus EvilThe
Grendel Essay, Research Paper Good versus Evil The central conflict in this epic is battle brtween good and evil. For years, Hrothan and his men had feared Grendel’s attack. It looks as if evil was being victorious.
Beowulf Grendel Essay Essay Research Paper Grendel
Beowulf: Grendel Essay Essay, Research Paper Grendel is the embodiment of all that is evil and dark. He is a descendant of Cain and like Cain is an outcast of society. He is doomed to roam in the shadows. He is always outside looking inside. He is an outside threat to the order of society and all that is good. His whole existence is grounded solely in the moral perversion to hate good simply because it is good.
Good Father Essay Research Paper The definition
Good Father Essay, Research Paper The definition of a good father is as individual as the individuals involved themselves. A good father is able to support his children?s strengths, along
Good Citizen Essay Research Paper The good
Good Citizen Essay, Research Paper The good man and the good citizen are not one and the same. What can be said about one cannot be necessarily said about the other. It is essential for the
Good Or Evil Essay Research Paper Is
Good Or Evil Essay, Research Paper Is Man Inherently Good, Bad, Both? Psychologists often struggle with the question does man have inherently good characteristics, or do they lead to the negative. What makes a man act the way he does? Is it nature, hormone imbalances, or the way he is raised? Man s intrinsic characteristics can be good bad or both.
Beowolf And Grendel Essay Research Paper Apart
Beowolf And Grendel Essay, Research Paper Apart from Wealth, Honor, and Paganistic vs. Biblical themes and motifs, character is also shown through a certain Man vs. Wild motif. This motif shows
Interpretation Of Blake
’s The Lamb And The Tyger Essay, Research Paper The Tyger and The Lamb reveals Blake’s interest in the opposites.Each symbolize things that are the opposites The Lamb represents good and peace, while The Tyger represents evil. Many people will find The Tyger the more interesting poem. The Tyger is repeatedly asking one question, “What would dare to make such a creature?” Blake is expressing what type of being would make such an evil creature.
Albert Camus Essay Research Paper PHL 342
Albert Camus Essay, Research Paper PHL 342 2-15-99 Albert Camus’ quote reaches me in a meaningful way. I am going to analyze this quote by the sentence because each one carries significance in the way I interpret them. The first sentence, “ Society proceeds sovereignly to eliminate the evil ones from her midst as if she were virtue itself.” This seems to me like Camus is saying that our society is acting as if it were perfect.
The Problem Of Evil Essay Research Paper
The Problem of Evil Evil exists, a plain and simple fact. The argument for the problem of evil (and suffering) proves that fact. The argument for the problem of evil
Good Vs Evil In King Lear Essay
, Research Paper In the King Lear play, Shakespeare creates many conditions in which humans live in the world. The main characters in the play are used to portray Shakespeare’s ideas. One of these ideas which Shakespeare is trying to portray is evil between the characters and in the world which are emphasized throughout the play.
Billy Budds Innocence Essay Research Paper Billy
Billy Budds Innocence Essay, Research Paper Billy Budd~ There is a lot to be said about innocence. If one is with innocence, than one can so no wrong but that isn?t all. Innocence is not always a good thing. It can make a person na?ve or blind to certain or all evils, which would seem as if they were blind from the world.
Augustine
’s “Confessions” Essay, Research Paper Augustine’s “Confessions” A philosophical question faces Christians, and in fact all theists, that challenges the belief in God. To theists, God is an omnipotent, perfect God.
Beowulf 2 Essay Research Paper Good and
Beowulf 2 Essay, Research Paper Good and evil has existed throughout time. Heroes have defended the righteous, as villains were bent on destruction. This story represents these qualities in both main characters. The struggle began when God allowed Satan dominion over the earth. Since then the battle between them has been recorded throughout literary history.
The Apology Essay Research Paper In the
The Apology Essay, Research Paper In the days of Socrates, he felt that if you lived a humble peaceful life that there was nothing to fear in death. Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth with his teachings in The Apology. The question posed was no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or death ? Based on our limited knowledge of death, this is a very difficult question that could be disputed any number of ways.
Beowulf Essay Research Paper In the epic
Beowulf Essay, Research Paper In the epic Beowulf, the poet shows that the conflict between good and evil is never ending. This is displayed is Strophe 12. The conflict between good and evil is seen in the setting, plot and characterization of the strophe.
Beowulf Essay Research Paper Beowulf Writing AssignmentThrough
Beowulf Essay, Research Paper Beowulf Writing Assignment Through the use of the conflict between good and evil throughout Beowulf, it was shown that two opposites could not peacefully coexist. Beowulf, with fourteen of his finest men, crossed the sea to help Hrothgar. Upon hearing of the Danes? horror, the hero decided to come to their aid.
What Is A Good Man Essay Research
Paper What is a good man? What is good? Are you good? According to the Encarta dictionary, being good is Having or showing and upright virtuous character . But what is upright and virtuous ? Being a good man cannot be put into a definition. There can never be a way to put what a good man is into words and have that be the law.
LightDArk Essay Research Paper Light DarkOutlineThesis
Light-DArk Essay, Research Paper Light / Dark Outline Thesis :In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses light and dark to bring out the ideas of good and understanding, and to show his audience the evil and hiding that take place during
Othello By Shakespeare Essay Research Paper Andrew
Othello By Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper Andrew Cecil Bradley discusses Shakespearean tragedy as being exemplified by a tragic hero with a tragic flaw, which ultimately leads to the demise of this hero. He states that “no play at the end of which the hero remains alive is, in the full Shakespearean sense, a tragedy”.
Grendel Vs Grendel Essay Research Paper Grendel
Grendel Vs. Grendel Essay, Research Paper Grendel Vs. Grendel In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is seen as pure evil and nothing more. He brings bad things and he kills loved ones. The epic poem just shows him as a monster who needs to be killed. In John Gardner s novel, Grendel, the monster is showed as bringing good things through his evil, like art and poetry.
Plato Vs Nietzche- The Nature Of
Good Essay, Research Paper Plato Vs. Nietzsche: The Nature of Good Plato and Nietzsche have opposing views on the nature of good. Plato, as demonstrated in the “The Cave” and “Apology,” believes that Good is absolute. This means that he is of the opinion that there is one perfect version of Good for all people, whether they are rich or poor, powerful or weak.
Chocolate War Essay Research Paper The Chocolate
Chocolate War Essay, Research Paper The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier was a book that we read in class, it was about good and evil. It is about how the to forces battle for superiority over one another. The book tells how one of the sides over powers the other to claim its spot on top. The people are like pawns to two of the characters, Archie and Brother Leon because they use the people to get what they want from them, and will stop at nothing to get it.
Society Is Evil Essay Research Paper Humans
Society Is Evil Essay, Research Paper Humans are both good and evil. I heard somebody say that society makes you evil, but I don?t agree. Society labels you as evil. Con-artists are at
Good Vs Evil Essay Research Paper Good
Good Vs Evil Essay, Research Paper Good vs. evil is an important concept. It is a life long struggle inside of you. In life, you are in a constant limbo between good and evil. One day, you might be in a good mood and the other day you might be in an evil, or bad mood. Before history and even in history, good vs. evil has always been a historic struggle.
Good Vs Evil
– Analytical Sentence Outline Essay, Research Paper Theme: Good and Evil Create a SocietyParagraph 1:CENTRAL IDEA: Conflicts heavily arise between the two topics of good and evil. THESIS SENTENCE: Through common stories good and evil are portrayed through both protagonist and antagonist view, creating morals and opinions, and how societies views have changed over time.
Silence Of The Lambs The Battle Between
Two Evils Essay, Research Paper Silence of the Lambs: The Battle Between Two Evils Philosophy 101 December 18, 1996 In the novel, Silence of the Lambs, we see two different extremes of