Evil as the absence of good (Privation Theory) Problem of evil

the version of deny evil called privation theory of evil , named because described evil form of lack, loss or privation . 1 of earliest proponents of theory 2nd-century clement of alexandria, according joseph kelly, stated since god good, not have created evil; if god did not create evil, cannot exist . evil, according clement, not exist positive, exists negative or lack of . clement s idea criticised inability explain suffering in world, if evil did not exist. pressed gnostics scholars question why god did not create creatures did not lack . clement attempted answer these questions ontologically through dualism, idea found in platonic school, presenting 2 realities, 1 of god , truth, of human , perceived experience.

the fifth-century theologian augustine of hippo adopted privation theory, , in enchiridion on faith, hope , love, maintained evil exists absence of , vices nothing privations of natural good. evil not substance, states augustine, nothing more loss of . god not participate in evil, god perfection, creation perfection, stated augustine. according privation theory, absence of good, explains sin , moral evil.

this view has been criticized merely substituting definition, of evil loss of , of problem of evil , suffering problem of loss of , suffering , neither addresses issue theoretical point of view nor experiential point of view. scholars criticize privation theory state murder, rape, terror, pain , suffering real life events victim, , cannot denied mere lack of . augustine, states pereira, accepted suffering exists , aware privation theory not solution problem of evil.