THEO 5415 Ricoeur and the Problem of Evil

This course explores Paul Ricoeur's reflections on the problem of evil engaging both his major works on this topic: The Symbolism of Evil and Evil: A Challenge to Philosophy and Theology. Ricoeur's inquiry starts from the hermeneutics of the elementary symbols of evil (defilement, sin, and guilt), and then develops an original theory of myths about the origin of evil (the myths of the primordial chaos, the tragic myth, Adams myth, and the myth of the exiled soul). Finally, his reflection concludes by examining the problem of evil in the great systems of the philosophical tradition.

Course overview

Department: Theology
School: MCAS
Credits: 3
Level: Both
Offered: Periodically

Catalog details

Prerequisites: Must have completed Philosophy Core

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Requirements fulfilled

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Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-08-02. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

Giovanni Pietro Basile
Fall 2026

Sections

Section 01
Fall 2026 · Giovanni Pietro Basile · Mcguinn Hall 437 W 04:30PM-06:50PM · Offered