Royce on the Problem of Evil

Abstract

THE treatment of the problem of evil by the absolute idealists has been particularly unsatisfactory to their opponents. The arguments which they use to defend the presence of evil in a universe which, according to idealistic logic, is perfect, are similar to those employed by the Stoics many years ago. These arguments received brilliant criticism at an early date and yet have reappeared at various intervals throughout the history of philosophy. At the present time it seems that the theist is unable to swerve very far from the general approach of monistic idealism to the problem of evil even though he may not agree with the whole metaphysical system. The problem is still that of the Stoics: If the whole is perfect, why are the parts imperfect? Perhaps no member of the group of absolute idealists has faced this question more frankly than Josiah Royce, and it is to him I feel inclined to turn for a satisfactory answer if one is to be found. Royce insists that the real key to the solution of the problem of evil is to be found in the central thesis of idealism.