According to the speakers, how did the ancient Greeks think about evil? What was “evil” to them? How did evil happen?
Who did Aristotle see as virtuous? How did someone attain virtue?
From Aristotle’s perspective, how does someone become evil?
The speakers talk about the philosophical idea of evil harming the individual (as well as other people). For the ancient Greeks, this harm to the self was because evil or vice kept the individual from flourishing or reaching their highest capacity. Do you think this philosophy of evil is consistent with other concepts of evil, such as the Judeo-Christian philosophy of evil? Why or why not?
How does St. Augustine explain the presence of evil?
The ancient Greeks and St. Augustine differ in how they view humans. The ancient Greeks saw humans as essentially good. St. Augustine and others sees humans as born into sin and must be saved by God. Do you think humans are essentially “good” or essentially “bad”? Is human nature good or bad at the core? Explain your response.
What are the two different types of evil that Aquinas develops in his philosophy?
Does the concept of “evil” have to be tied to a concept of God? Why or why not?