The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings

This edited volume assembles key philosophical texts addressing one of the most enduring challenges to theistic belief: the problem of evil. Peterson curates selections that represent the full spectrum of positions in this debate, from classical formulations of the problem through contemporary responses and reformulations. The collection serves as both a comprehensive introduction to the field and a resource for advanced study of how the existence of evil bears upon arguments for and against God's existence.

The volume traces the historical development of the problem of evil from ancient sources through modern analytical philosophy. Peterson includes foundational texts that articulate the logical problem of evil—the claim that God's traditional attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and perfect goodness are logically incompatible with evil's existence. The collection features influential statements of this position alongside major theistic responses, including various formulations of the free will defense, soul-making theodicies, and arguments from the inscrutability of divine purposes.

Peterson's editorial approach emphasizes the dialectical nature of the debate. Rather than presenting a one-sided case, the volume demonstrates how each position generates sophisticated counter-arguments, which in turn provoke further refinements. This structure reveals how the problem of evil has evolved from its early formulations into increasingly nuanced discussions about probability, gratuitous suffering, and the cognitive limitations of human perspective on cosmic justice.

The collection particularly highlights the shift from deductive versions of the problem of evil to evidential or probabilistic arguments. This transition marks a crucial development in philosophy of religion, as contemporary discussants largely accept that the mere existence of evil does not logically disprove God's existence, focusing instead on whether the amount and distribution of evil make theism improbable. Peterson includes seminal texts from both sides of this probabilistic debate.

By presenting these diverse perspectives within a single volume, Peterson enables readers to engage with the problem of evil as a living philosophical controversy rather than a settled question. The editorial framework illuminates how this ancient problem continues to generate new insights about the nature of suffering, moral responsibility, and the conditions for rational religious belief. The collection thus serves multiple audiences: students encountering these arguments for the first time, scholars tracking the debate's evolution, and anyone grappling with how evil's reality bears upon questions of ultimate meaning and divine existence.