Moral Evil

Book Description

The question of why evil exists has challenged humanity's greatest thinkers for millennia, touching the very core of our understanding about human nature and moral responsibility. In this thoughtful exploration, Andrew Michael Flescher guides readers through five distinct philosophical frameworks for understanding moral evil, each offering unique insights into one of life's most perplexing questions.

Rather than treating evil as an abstract concept, Flescher presents practical models that help illuminate the complex relationship between human choice and moral failure. He examines traditional dualistic approaches that view evil as an active force, theological perspectives that find meaning in suffering, social constructions that question evil's objective reality, and the influential Augustinian view of evil as the absence of good.

Building upon these established traditions, Flescher develops an innovative fifth model that bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary virtue ethics. By connecting the insights of Augustine with Aristotelian thought, he creates a framework centered on developing altruistic habits and moral skills through daily practice.

What sets this work apart is its hopeful approach to human moral development. Instead of viewing those who commit evil acts as fundamentally different from the rest of humanity, Flescher emphasizes our shared capacity for moral growth through intentional cultivation of virtue and genuine attention to others' needs.

This scholarly yet accessible work offers both intellectual depth and practical wisdom for anyone seeking to understand the nature of moral evil and our potential for ethical transformation.