Single Idea 21404

[catalogued under 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / d. Natural Evil]

Full Idea

The evil which occurs in terrible disasters has a rationale [logos] peculiar to itself: for in a sense it occurs in accordance with universal reason, and is not without usefulness in relation to the whole. For without it there could be no good.

Gist of Idea

There is a rationale in terrible disasters; they are useful to the whole, and make good possible

Source

Chrysippus (fragments/reports [c.240 BCE]), quoted by A.A. Long - Hellenistic Philosophy 4.4.5

Book Reference

Long,A.A.: 'Hellenistic Philosophy' [Duckworth 1986], p.169


A Reaction

[a quotation from Chrysippus. Plutarch, Comm Not 1065b] A nice question about any terrible disaster is whether it is in some way 'useful', if we take a broader view of things. Almost everything has a good aspect, from that perspective.