The problem of evil was addressed by Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) by referring to the theory of the will (“life force”), which constitutes the pillar of his philosophy. Schopenhauer defined the will as the force driving living creatures to secure their survival and reproduction, and seek pleasure. According to Schopenhauer, the will creates endless human desires. As soon as one desire is fulfilled, another one arises. It is simply impossible to satisfy them all. As a result, frustration and suffering ensue. Schopenhauer described the will as a blind, wild, irrational, relentless force. It drives people in a certain direction without any consideration of risks, costs, or justice. The will is impervious to legal considerations. It does not know the meaning of human rights, property rights, fairness or contractual commitments. It does not submit itself to any legal framework, nor cares about exploitation, abuses, victimization, and mistreatment. Schopenhauer attributes all evil to the influence of the will. He acknowledges that the will is inflicting damages, suffering, and confusion on people, but the will rejects any responsibility or liability. The will operates without empathy, mercy or moderation. It is a doom machine, pushing individuals towards the precipice. The will drives people to seek pleasure, ensure their survival and reproduction, and disregard the consequences. No wonder that its influence leads to vast tangible and intangible damage. How does Schopenhauer's view of evil compare to religious views, especially in Christianity? The differences are massive. For Schopenhauer, evil is the natural outcome of the will if left to operate unchecked. It's up to each individual to adopt an array of countermeasures to avert the negative influence of the will. For Christianity, evil is a separate force opposed to God. It's malevolent and ruthless but not overwhelming. Christians view God as benevolent and omnipotent, and justify evil by a divine decision to leave humans free to find the right path. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-and-the-problem-of-evil/

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