The History of Evil in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries by Douglas Hedley

Author:Douglas Hedley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)
Published: 2018-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

I have seized on the topic of war as a case study to explore my feeling that Darwinism must have made a difference, and in particular to our thinking about evil. War is a dreadful thing. If anything is evil, this is it. I have argued that there are significant differences but that they are not quite what one might think. Initially, one might think that Christians look upon war as a bad thing, but that one must refrain from it as much as possible. With good will and by following the dictates of Jesus, we must and can make war a thing of the past. Initially, one might think that Darwinians look almost upon war as a good thing – that it will be ongoing, never-ceasing, and we should get used to and celebrate that idea.

The view about Christians proved wrong, because although war is indeed considered an evil, it is also claimed that (because of original sin) war will be with us always, and it would be naïve and wrong to think otherwise. All of this is put in a Providential framework where, ultimately, everything is a function of God’s will and mercy. The view about Darwinians proved wrong, because, although in respects early war was considered a necessity that had good effects – notably civilized humans – the belief is that war can and must be conquered and made a thing of the past. All of this is put in a Progressive framework where, ultimately, everything is a function of unaided human effort. Hardy was right to think that God is taken out of the discussion, but wrong to think that this at once spells despair and despondency. Progress gives us hope in a Godless (or God-indifferent) world.

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