Evil: A Primer : A History of a Bad Idea from Beelzebub to Bin Laden

Rating:
Summary: Pass it on
Review: A wonderful book. Get 2 copies and pass one on to a Congressman, a right wing evangelist or any other religious fanatics you know.

Rating:
Summary: O Shallow, Shallow Man
Review: Over the millennia, great minds have grappled with the problem of evil in a world ruled by a supposedly benevolent God. Augustine, Anselm, Thomas Aquinas and others have contributed deep and influential material to this most difficult subject.

And then, there "Evil: A Primer" by William Hart, a former journalist and "public policy research associate."

"Evil" is a broad, shallow retrospective of various approaches to the subject. He surveys the way various disciplines have approached the topic - including religion, the legal system, psychoanalysis and sociobiology. In his opinion, their answers are wanting. Ultimately, Hart concludes that evil is "part of the program" and "the price of being human." Kind of seems to me that just gave up on the question.

The book does have some interesting sections. The chapter on cursing ("May you marry your mother-in law!") was funny and educational: I may give cursing a try. Other chapters explored little-considered aspects of the problem of evil. For instance, how does one define, consistently, whether a crime is depraved or especially heinous? Why does mutilating a corpse (which can't feel any pain, after all) raise an ordinary murder to the level of depravity? Hart's questions about the value of "evil" in the form of lust and aggression - both deeply rooted in our biology - are important. His discussion of whether all lies are evil almost builds to something. But just when an answer comes into view, hART veers away, wringing his hands that the problem has no solution.

Those looking for real answers to the problem of evil will have to keep looking. If "Evil" represents Hart's depth as a moralist, he'd be smart to keep his day job.