Short description:

This collection brings together new papers addressing the philosophical challenges that the concept of a Devil presents. Contributors approach the idea of the Devil from a variety of philosophical traditions, methodologies, and styles, providing a comprehensive philosophical overview that contemplates the existence, nature, and purpose of the Devil.

Long description:

This collection brings together new papers addressing the philosophical challenges that the concept of a Devil presents, bringing philosophical rigor to treatments of the Devil. Contributors approach the idea of the Devil from a variety of philosophical traditions, methodologies, and styles, providing a comprehensive philosophical overview that contemplates the existence, nature, and purpose of the Devil. While some papers take a classical approach to the Devil, drawing on biblical exegesis, other contributors approach the topic of the Devil from epistemological, metaphysical, phenomenological, and ethical perspectives. This volume will be relevant to researchers and scholars interested in philosophical conceptions of the Devil and related areas, such as philosophers of religion, theologians, and scholars working in philosophical theology and demonology.

"Belief in the devil plays a significant role in the religious lives of many people, but this belief has been largely ignored in philosophy. The essays in this engaging collection begin to restore the balance by pursuing some of the philosophical challenges that emerge from the idea of an individual who is the embodiment of absolute evil."

William Hasker, Professor Emeritus, Huntington University, USA

"In this volume we see classical, modern and contemporary questions about the devil?his existence, nature and purpose(s)?being subjected to careful scrutiny and analysis. The treatment throughout is balanced and fair, in the spirit of C. S. Lewis who recommended squarely the avoidance of two errors: paying not enough attention, and paying far too much attention, to the Devil and matters diabolical. If angelic balance there be, the editors and contributors seem to have achieved a suitable (and we might add, timely) weighing of arguments and evidence regarding what many take to be the undeniable personification of evil in the midst of our world and our history."

Edward Martin, Liberty University, USA

"The volume is consistently well written and a pleasure to read. The editors have succeeded in gathering a respectable number of different approaches. The range of philosophical currents and schools of thought shown gives a solid insight into the international debates about evil."

Dr. Christoph J. Amor, Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Brixen, Italien

Table of Contents:

Introduction Benjamin W. McCraw and Robert Arp  Part I: Divergent Conceptions of the Devil  1. Devil in the Details: Tracing the Biblical Genealogy and Origin of the Satan-Lucifer Myths Adam D. Neal  2. Nietzsche, Satan, and the Romantics: The Devil as "Tragic Hero" in Romanticism Siobhan Lyons  3. Satan, Romantic Hero or Just Another Asshole: The Desire to be God, the Devil, and the Demonic James M. McLachlan  4. Wormwood Gets Promoted: A Devilish Look at Higher Education J. Aaron Simmons  Part II: The Devil in Medieval and Modern Philosophy  5. The Devil and St. Anselm Katherin A. Rogers  6. The Secret Joke of Satan?s Soul Kevin Carnahan  7. "Behold, It is Cast into the Fire for Fuel": Jonathan Edwards on the Usefulness of the Wicked David Reiter  8. Descartes? Demon: More Powerful and Virtuous than God? Joshua M. Hall  Part III: The Devil and Epistemology  9. A Theist?s Nightmare Paul McNamara  10. "Now, Who Could it Be?": Satan and the Argument from Natural Evil James F. Sennett  11. Reformed Demonology Benjamin W. McCraw  Part IV: The Devil in Moral and Social Philosophy  12. What?s Wrong with Satanic Temptation? T. Ryan Byerly  13. The Devil?s Philosophy of Law: Obedience and Disobedience Andre Santos Campos  14. If the Devil Did Not Exist, It May Be Necessary to Invent Him in Certain Contexts Robert Arp