ON THE PROBLEM AND MYSTERY OF EVIL

Abstract

This paper maps out Marcel’s conception of evil onto his fundamental distinction between problem and mystery, shows that the distinction creates two effective methodologies for dealing with evil in the world (the problem approach and the mystery approach), draws the antinomy of evil based on these methodologies, and then demonstrates that the antinomy can be dissolved through an existentially engaged, communal encounter with evil and hope. The antinomy between the problem of evil and the mystery of evil is not one to be solved, then, but is one to be dissolved through an encounter with hope. Evil cannot be wholly eradicated when it lacks the objective features of a problem. Evil cannot be reflected upon as a pure mystery, when it produces wholly concrete experiences of suffering. Dissolving the antinomy facilitates Marcel’s vision of transforming the encounter of evil through a love that brings a feeling of hope – for all, regardless of existential or theistic commitment. Hope can act as a “springboard” to existential meaning, wherein the community resides at the very heart of mystery.

Keywords:

• Gabriel Marcel
• problem
• mystery
• problem of evil
• hope
• reflection

disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

This paper benefited from feedback at the Southwest Seminar in Continental Philosophy, and especially from comments by Claire Katz, Daniel Conway, Alison Merrick, and Gregory VanWagenen.

1 David Michael Cudnik’s dissertation is quite excellent at drawing out these examples, and of comparing them to aesthetic judgments.

2 Marcel at times seems to think that especially those philosophers who engage in secondary reflection can help the world through the difficult consequences of evil in the world. See, most importantly, “The Philosopher and the Contemporary World” in Man against Mass Society 103–32.

3 See, especially, Paul Ricouer, Conversations 3 in Marcel, Tragic Wisdom and Beyond 236.

4 For more on the nature of Marcelian hope, see Hernandez.