St. Thomas states that evil is not a thing that exists, and is only the privation of good. Gods essence is being itself and His nature is Actus Purus, the act that brings forth being, or love. Everything that exists is good, it is only when good things or good people act in a disordered (against Gods nature) manner that evil occurs. For example wood, fire, air, and water all exist, and are good in themselves. If the goal (moral action) is to stock the fire, one adds wood and air in ordered measure, and the fire grows. However, if one uses a bunch of wood, or air, or adds enough water, the fire goes out. Nothing evil was used, but only good things in disproportionate measures were used in an evil manner. Now there is no such thing as non-fire to counter fire, and by this same logic, we see that evil itself does not exist as opposed to good- it is only the absence of Good. - Robert Barzilauskas
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 11:36:45 +0000
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