PHIL 754 The Problem of Evil in Neoplatonic Philosophy
Plotinus' conception of evil as mere privation of the good resolved the problem of dualism which Plato seemed to have accepted in his dialogues. However, his interpretation did not remain unchallenged. Proclus defended the existence of evil against Plotinus and claimed that although absolute evil does not exist, evils, which are not just privations of the good but contraries to it, do.
The course will focus primarily on Plotinus, Ennead I, 8 (Where Do Evils Come From?) and on Proclus, On the Existence of Evils, but cover relevant texts from Plato's dialogues and from other Platonic thinkers too. Some knowledge of Greek and Latin is welcome, but not required.