The Problem of Evil: Tr. from the French of M. Ernest Naville

The Problem Of Evil: Tr. From The French Of M. Ernest Naville by Ernest Naville presents a 19th?century philosophical and theological exploration of the problem of evil and the harmony (or tension) between Christian faith and reason. Naville’s lectures, delivered in Geneva and Lausanne in 1867–68 and here translated by John P. Lacroix, proceed by defining the Good as the order that ought to be, and then identifying Evil as the disorder that disrupts that order. He analyzes the Good in three senses—conscience (duty), heart (happiness), and reason (fitness)—and argues for a unified understanding in which these goods coincide with the plan of the universe under God. The work develops a twofold solution: humanity’s fall and collective responsibility, grounded in the unity of the human race and the divine will. It surveys Evil in nature and humanity, critiques competing views (such as moral relativism and the notion that evil is necessary), and culminates with a defense of prayer, faith, and the moral order grounded in Christianity. The book combines accessible prose with rigorous argument, aiming to reconcile faith and reason for a wide audience.