Evil

The podcast explores the philosophical problem of evil, beginning with the theological problem of theodicy, which questions how an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God can be reconciled with the existence of evil. It examines historical responses to this problem, including Manichaeism, which posits a cosmic battle between God and Satan, and the medieval view of evil as a privation of goodness. The discussion then shifts to Hannah Arendt's concept of the banality of evil, illustrated by the case of Adolf Eichmann, arguing that evil stems from thoughtlessness and a lack of empathy rather than monstrous motives. The hosts consider whether "evil" remains a useful concept in secular ethics, referencing philosopher Paul Formosa's argument that it is necessary to describe extreme moral wrongdoing, and discuss whether some people can be described as evil.