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Spinoza and the Relativity of Evil in the World
Asia Institute the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Asia Institute the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Open Journal of Philosophy·Volume 08 (2018)·Pages 145–155·Published 8 May 2018·DOI10.4236/ojpp.2018.83011
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Abstract
This article analyses the problem of evil in the world in the context of Spinoza’s philosophical discourse. It deals with an important and urgent question: is there evil in the world or not? Drawing upon Spinoza’s interpretation of the relationship between God and the world, I consider this dilemma by concentrating upon the pantheistic elements of his philosophy. I have discussed how Spinoza develops his arguments for the relativity of evil and its objective non-existence. This solution is derived from the way he identifies substance as the sole reality with God. I have also compared Spinoza’s ideas with those of Plotinus by highlighting similarities in their respective understandings of the problem of evil.
KeywordsSubstanceEvilRelativityImmanenceTranscendence
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