Confronting the horror of natural evil: An exchange between Peter Coghlan and Nick Trakakis

In this exchange, Peter Coghlan and Nick Trakakis discuss the problem of natural evil in the light of the recent Asian tsunami disaster. The exchange begins with an extract from a newspaper article written by Coghlan on the tsunami, followed by three rounds of replies and counter-replies, and ending with some final comments from Trakakis. While critical of any attempt to show that human life is good overall despite its natural evils, Coghlan argues that instances of natural evil, even horrific ones, can be justified as the unavoidable by-product of a natural system on which human life and culture depends. Trakakis, however, rejects this view, counselling instead a degree of skepticism about our ability to construct a plausible theodicy for horrific evil.

Drexel, als Amor, Rollenbild, in: Nick und Flock

Signatur des Originals: S 36/F00375

Nick Andrade

http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/carver_narratives/1028/thumbnail.jpg

Donovan Bowerbank (left) & Nick K. (in red) at Valentine celebration, February 1987 (date printed by photo lab on back)

We could probably get sharper focus on another scanner with manual focus adjustment