Table Of ContentThe History of Evil in Antiquity
The History of Evil in Antiquity
“The History of Evil in Antiquity would be a very useful volume to employ in a
college course on the problem of evil. It should also prove of great interest to the
many members of the general public who wrestle with the tension between the
claim that the world is rooted in divine goodness and the existence of obvious
and often horrendous evils.”
WTilhliaem JH. Wiasintworrigyht , oUnfi vEersivtyi olf Winisc oAnsinn-Mtiilwqauukeiet, yUSA
““TWhee tHhiisntkor wy eo fk Enoviwl iwn hAant teiqvuiilt yis ,w soinuclde bwee ’av ev earlly huasdef usol mvoe leuxmpee rtioe necme pwloityh i nth ae
csuoblljeegcet .c Yoeutr siet honas tbheee pnr oubnldeemrs toof oedv iiln. Ivt esrhyo duilfdfe arlesnot p wroavyes aocf rgorsesa vt airnitoeurse sctu tlotu trhees
manadn tyi mmeesm. Tbehres Hofi stthorey goefn Eevraill speruibelsi cb iwdsh ofa iwr rteos tdlee ewpietnh otuhre gtreansspi oonf hboewtw veaerni otuhse,
calnadim h otwha vta trhioeu wsloy rcldo nisc eriovoetde,d e vinil disi.v Tinhee gdoiovdenrseitsys eaxnadm thinee dex iins ttehnics efi rosft ovbovluiomues
aonf dt hoef tesenr iheos rirse nadlroeuasd eyv eilns.o”u gh to raise the fundamental question of whether
we’re really talking about the same thing when we talk about conceptions of
Weviill liinam W Je. sWt aanidn wEarisgth, at,n Utiqnuivietrys iatyn do fm Woidsceornnsitiny.- MIt’islw aa mukineed,- UexSpAanding volume.”
Phillip Cary, Eastern University, USA
T“Thhise fiHrisstt ovryo loufm Eev iol fi nT Ahen tHiqiusittoyr yw oofu lEdv bile cao vveerrsy Gusreafeuclo v-Roloummaen ,t oI nedmiapnlo, yN inea ar
Ecoasllteegrne ,c oaunrds eE oanst tehrne pprhoiblolesmop ohfy e avnild. Itr eslhigoiuolnd afrlosom p r2o0v0e0 o bf cgere atot in45te0r ecset .t oT thhies
bmoaonky c mhaermtsb tehres foofu tnhdea gtieonnesr aolf pthueb lhicis wtohryo owf reevstill ea mwiotnhg t thhee t menasjioorn p bheiltowseoepnh itchael
tcrlaadimiti othnas ta nthde w woorlrdld r eisli groioontes,d b ieng idninviinnge wgoitohd ntheess o aldneds tt hreec eoxrdisetde ntrcaed oitfi oonbsv: itohues
Vanedd aosf taennd hUoprraenniṣdaoduss, eCvoilnsf.”u cianism and Daoism, and Buddhism, and continuing
through Graeco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian schools of thought. This cutting-
PeWdhgiilelll iitaprme Ca tJam.r yWe,n Eat ioansfw ttehrrnieg hhUitns,t iUovernyris voitefy re,s viUtiylS aoAtf iWts icscrouncsiainl -aMndil wdeatuekreme,i nUaStiAve inception will
appeal to those with particular interests in the ancient period and early theories
This first volume of The History of Evil covers Graeco-Roman, Indian, Near
and ideas of evil and good, as well as those seeking an understanding of how later
Eastern, and Eastern philosophy and religion from 2000 bce to 450 ce. This
philosophical and religious developments were conditioned and shaped.
book charts the foundations of the history of evil among the major philosophical
tTraodmit iPon. sS a. nAd nwgoierrld i sr eLliegciotunrse, rb ieng iPnhniilnogs owpihthy taht et hoeld eUstn irveecrosridtye do tf rCadaiptieo nTso: wthne,
VSoeudtahs aAnfdri Ucap.aniṣads, Confucianism and Daoism, and Buddhism, and continuing
through Graeco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian schools of thought. This cutting-
eCdhgaed t rMeaetimsteenr ti os fP trhoefe hsissotro oryf oPfh eivloils oapt hitys carnudc iTalh aenodlo dgeyt eartm Bientahteilv eC ionlcleegpet,i oUnS wAil.l
appeal to those with particular interests in the ancient period and early theories
aCPnhhdia lirldilpees aC sT aoarfly ie,av fEielar asrtnoed rin sg UPoornodifv,e easrssso iwtry eo,l flU PaSsh Atihloossoep sheye kaitn Sgt a On luanf dCeorlslteagned, iUngS Aof. how later
philosophical and religious developments were conditioned and shaped.
This first volume of The History of Evil covers Graeco-Roman, Indian, Near
TTEoaosmmte rPPn.. , SSa.n. AdA nnEggaiiseetrer r iniss SLpehencilitoousrro eLpr ehicynt uaPrnhedri l oirnseo lPipghhioiyln oa stfo rptohhmey U2a0tn 0ti0hv eebr scUietny itvooef r4Cs5ita0yp eco efT . CoTwahpnies,
STbooouwotknh ,c AhSaofrruittcsh at .hAef rfoicuan.dations of the history of evil among the major philosophical
traditions and world religions, beginning with the oldest recorded traditions: the
CVhedadas M anedis Utepr ains iPṣarodfse, sCsoorn ofuf cPihainloissmop ahnyd a Dnado Tishme,o alnogdy B autd Bdehtihsmel, Canodll ecgoen,t UinSuAin.g
through Graeco-Roman and Judaeo-Christian schools of thought. This cutting-
Cedhgaer tleresa Ttmaleinafte orfr oth ies hPirsotfoersys oorf oevf iPl hatil iotsso cprhucyi aatl aSntd O dleatfe Crmolilneagtei,v Ue iSnAce.ption will
appeal to those with particular interests in the ancient period and early theories
and ideas of evil and good, as well as those seeking an understanding of how later
philosophical and religious developments were conditioned and shaped.
Tom P. S. Angier is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cape Town,
South Africa.
Chad Meister is Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Bethel College, USA.
Charles Taliaferro is Professor of Philosophy at St Olaf College, USA.
The History of Evil
Series Editors: Chad Meister and Charles Taliaferro
Available:
Volume I, The History of Evil in Antiquity: 2000 bce–450 ce
Volume II, The History of Evil in the Medieval Age: 450–1450
Volume III, The History of Evil in the Early Modern Age: 1450–1700
Volume IV, The History of Evil in the 18th and 19th Centuries: 1700–1900
Volume V, The History of Evil in the Early Twentieth Century: 1900–1950
Volume VI, The History of Evil from the Mid-Twentieth Century to Today:
1950–2018
The History of Evil in
The History of Evil
Series Editors: Chad Meister and Charles Taliaferro Antiquity
2000 –450
bce ce
Volume I
Available:
Edited by Tom P. S. Angier
Series editors: Chad Meister and
Charles Taliaferro
First published 2019
and by Routledge
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© 22001197 selection and editorial matter, Tom P. S. Angier, Chad Meister,
and Charles Taliaferro; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial
material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Angier, Tom P. S., editor.
Title: The history of evil / edited by Tom Angier, Chad Meister, and
Charles Taliaferro.
Description: 1 [edition]. | New York : Routledge-Taylor & Francis,
2016. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015048701 | ISBN 9781138642300 (v. 1 : hbk)
Subjects: LCSH: Good and evil—History.
Classification: LCC BJ1401 .H57 2016 | DDC 170.9—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015048701
ISBN: 978-1-138-23716-2 (Set, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-64230-0 (Vol I, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-63005-2 (Vol I, ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23680-6 (Vol II, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-13852-9 (Vol II, ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23682-0 (Vol III, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-13848-2 (Vol III, ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23683-7 (Vol IV, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-13840-6 (Vol, IV, ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23684-4 (Vol V, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-13836-9 (Vol V, ebk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23687-5 (Vol VI, hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-13960-1 (Vol VI, ebk)
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Contents
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 selection and editorial matter, Tom P. S. Angier, Chad Meister,
and Charles Taliaferro; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial
material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
List of contributors vii
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, Series introduction ix
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers. CHAD MEISTER AND CHARLES TALIAFERRO
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation Introduction 1
without intent to infringe.
TOM P. S. ANGIER
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Angier, Tom P. S., editor.
Title: The history of evil / edited by Tom Angier, Chad Meister, and 1 Ancient Israel 11
Charles Taliaferro.
RÜDIGER SCHMITT
Description: 1 [edition]. | New York : Routledge-Taylor & Francis,
2016. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015048701 | ISBN 9781138642300 (v. 1 : hbk) 2 The Book of Job 24
Subjects: LCSH: Good and evil—History.
Classification: LCC BJ1401 .H57 2016 | DDC 170.9—dc23 KATHARINE J. DELL
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015048701
3 Early Christian thought 34
CHARLES TALIAFERRO
4 Saint Paul 45
TIMOTHY GOMBIS
5 Early Zoroastrian thought 57
JENNY ROSE
6 Manichaeism 75
MICHAEL MENDELSON
7 The Gnostics 90
GIOVANNI FILORAMO
8 The Presocratics 104
VICKI L. HARPER
vi Contents
9 Socrates and Plato 125
SOPHIE GRACE CHAPPELL
10 Aristotle 145
TOM P. S. ANGIER
11 Epicureanism 163
THOMAS A. BLACKSON
12 The Stoics 175
JOHN SELLARS
13 Scepticism 187
RICHARD BETT
14 Neoplatonism 198
KEVIN CORRIGAN
15 Philo of Alexandria 213
MARIAN HILLAR
16 Evil in Graeco-Roman religion and literature 224
ROCKI WENTZEL
17 Vedas and Upaniṣads 239
SHYAM RANGANATHAN
18 Buddhism 256
PETER HARVEY
19 Ancient China 273
RANDALL L. NADEAU
20 Representations of evil 289
DALE JACQUETTE
Index 302
vi Contents
9 Socrates and Plato 125
Contributors
SOPHIE GRACE CHAPPELL
10 Aristotle 145
TOM P. S. ANGIER
11 Epicureanism 163
THOMAS A. BLACKSON
12 The Stoics 175
JOHN SELLARS
Tom P. S. Angier is Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Cape Town.
13 Scepticism 187
Richard Bett is Professor of Philosophy and Chair at Johns Hopkins University.
RICHARD BETT
Thomas A. Blackson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Arizona State
14 Neoplatonism 198 University.
KEVIN CORRIGAN
Sophie Grace Chappell is Professor of Philosophy at the Open University.
15 Philo of Alexandria 213 Kevin Corrigan is Director of the Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts and
Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Interdisciplinary Humanities at Emory
MARIAN HILLAR
University.
16 Evil in Graeco-Roman religion and literature 224
Katharine J. Dell is Reader in Old Testament Theology and Fellow and Director
ROCKI WENTZEL of Studies in Theology and Religious Studies, St Catharine’s College,
University of Cambridge.
17 Vedas and Upaniṣads 239
Giovanni Filoramo is Professor of History of Christianity at the University of
SHYAM RANGANATHAN
Turin.
18 Buddhism 256 Timothy Gombis is Associate Professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids
Theological Seminary.
PETER HARVEY
Vicki L. Harper is Professor of Philosophy at St Olaf College.
19 Ancient China 273
Peter Harvey is Emeritus Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of
RANDALL L. NADEAU
Sunderland.
20 Representations of evil 289 Marian Hillar is Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies and Biochemistry
DALE JACQUETTE and the Director of the Center for Philosophy and Socinian Studies at Texas
Southern University.
Index 302 Dale Jacquette is Professor of Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Bern.
Chad Meister is Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Bethel College.
Michael Mendelson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Lehigh University.
Randall L. Nadeau is Chair of the Department of Religion and Professor of East
Asian Religions at Trinity University.
viii Contributors
Shyam Ranganathan is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at York University,
Toronto.
Jenny Rose is Associate Professor of Religion at Claremont Graduate School.
Rüdiger Schmitt is a member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of
Münster.
John Sellars is Lecturer in Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London,
a Research Fellow in the Department of Philosophy, King’s College London,
and a member of Wolfson College, Oxford.
Charles Taliaferro is Professor of Philosophy and Department Chair at St Olaf
College.
Rocki Wentzel is Associate Professor of Religion at Augustana College.
Rocki Wentzel is Associate Professor of Religion at Augustana College.
viii Contributors
Shyam Ranganathan is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at York University,
Series introduction
Toronto.
Jenny Rose is Associate Professor of Religion at Claremont Graduate School.
Chad Meister and Charles Taliaferro
Rüdiger Schmitt is a member of the Faculty of Theology at the University of
Münster.
Rocki Wentzel is Associate Professor of Religion at Augustana College.
This massive project, with dozens of original essays in six volumes, in
collaboration with six distinguished scholars as volume editors, is intended
to be an accessible, international contribution to the philosophical study of
evil in multiple cultures and times. In this project, ‘evil’ is understood in the
broadest sense to cover the widest spectrum of what different philosophical
and religious persons and traditions have identified as wrong or bad or unfit-
ting or impediments to the good. More specifically, the concept of ‘evil’ in
the History of Evil includes but is not restricted to the concepts of (and thus
the history of) sin, pain, and suffering, the violation of the good, actions or
events that are not in harmony with the Dao, the pursuit of dangerous illu-
sions accompanied by a refusal to seek enlightenment, states of character that
are malicious, the desecration of that which is sacred, and more. The work,
as a whole, is philosophical insofar as it engages historical and contemporary
events (involving social and political history, the history of science, religion,
and art) in an effort to articulate and assess philosophically the thought,
reasons, values, and emotions involved in thinking about evil in different
times and places. The project has not been forged to support a particular
account of evil or to support a particular proposal for the defeat (or elimina-
tion) of evil, but three salient themes have emerged in the process of our work
on this project that we convey in this brief introduction to all six volumes.
First, we believe that there is some wisdom in not thinking of ‘evil’ narrowly
as a special category of profoundly heinous wrongdoing. It may seem quite natural
to reserve the term ‘evil’ for genocide, outrageous displays of violence, demonic
possession, and so on, and not to lessen its potency if used for minor, human
failings. Arguably, it seems odd to use any single term (especially ‘evil’) to cover
both petty, personal wrongdoings, with their minimal long-term harms (perhaps
a wrongful lie to achieve short-term social gain such as getting a good night’s sleep
rather than experiencing a stodgy party), and such horrific actions as sadistic
torture and serial killing. But there is some sense in pulling together, in a single
multi-volume work, a diverse set of chapters with a full spectrum of what persons
have found to be wrong (or bad or wicked or sinful or abominable or unfitting).
This allows us to take stock of an important question that arises in the study of
evil: how ‘ordinary’ or ‘natural’ is what many of us call evil and how might the
