"The Problem of Evil"

Sponsored by the generous gift of President Arthur G. Hansen

April 1-3, 2005

View video of "Evil-Talk After September 11: Is This the Final End of Theodicy?"

Thanks to a generous gift from former Purdue President Arthur G. Hansen, the English and Philosophy Ph.D. Program will be hosting, on April 1-3, 2005, a conference on "The Problem of Evil." The event will be co-sponsored with the Department of Philosophy, Jewish Studies, Religious Studies, and Women's Studies, to celebrate, among others, Professor William L. Rowe in his "last year at Purdue," as his accomplishments in analytic philosophy of religion, particularly on the topic of evil, are widely known and noteworthy.

The gathering will also feature Purdue's George Ade Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Calvin O. Schrag, and other eminent scholars in Continental philosophy of religion, as well as specialists in Biblical literature, critical theory, feminism, and political philosophy. Professor Schrag's last book, God as Otherwise Than Being, is a work in Continental philosophy of religion, and is thus eminently suited as a partner in dialogue with analytic approaches to this topic.

President Hansen will present at this conference his paper on the problem of evil in the Book of Job. The concluding roundtable with all plenary speakers, addressing the question, "Evil-Talk After September 11: Is This the Final End of Theodicy?", will conclude the three day conference.

Plenary sessions with Concluding Roundtable Plenary - Stewart Center 214 ABCD

Friday, April 1

I. Evil in Continental Philosophy of Religion 4:30-7:00 p.m.

"How Does that which is other become evil?"

Calvin O. Schrag, the George Ade Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, Purdue University

"Suffering and Transcendence"

Eugene T. Long, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, University of South Carolina at Columbia

"Self, Other, and Evil"

David Crownfield, Professor of Religious Literature and Philosophy Emeritus, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Moderator: Martin Beck Matustik , Professor of Philosophy, Purdue University

A Marathon Reading of Paradise Lost
Click here for Schedule
Stewart Center Art Gallery, 1st floor Stewart, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Books 1-6

Saturday, April 2

II. Evil in Analytic Philosophy of Religion 9:00-11:30 a.m.

"Friendly Atheism, Skeptical Theism, and the Problem of Evil"

William Rowe, Professor of Philosophy, Purdue University

"Evil and the Empathy of God"

John Schellenberg, Professor of Philosophy, Mount St. Vincent University, Canada

"Evil and Evolution"

Paul Draper, Professor of Philosophy, Florida International University

Moderator: Rod Bertolet , Professor of Philosophy, Purdue University

Box lunch 11:30-1:00 (Stewart Center, pre-registration required)

III. Job and Evil in Biblical Literature 1:00-2:45 p.m.

"The Book of Job and Its Legacy"

Arthur G. Hansen, former President of Purdue University

"Evil and Accusation in the Book of Job: A Reply to Arthur G. Hansen"

Sandor Goodhart, Associate Professor of English and Jewish Studies, Purdue University

Moderator: William L. McBride , Arthur G. Hansen Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Purdue University

IV. Evil in Critical Theory and Social and Political Thought 3:00-4:45 p.m.

"The Place of Angelus Novus: Between Catastrophes"

Maria Pia Lara, Professor of Philosophy, Universidad National Autonóma Metropolitana (UAM), Mexico City

"An End to Evil? Philosophical and Political Reflections"

Fred R. Dallmayr, Packey J. Dee Professor in the Departments of Political Science and Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

Moderator: Patrocinio Schweickart , Professor of English and Women's Studies, Purdue University

5:00-6:45 p.m.

"Kant's Theses Concerning Radical Evil"

Claudia Card, Emma Goldman Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin, teaching affiliations in Women's Studies, the Center for Jewish Studies, and the Institute for Environmental Studies

"From Radical Evil to Perpetual Peace"

Robin May Schott, Associate Professor of Philosophy, the University of Copenhagen

Moderator: Aparajita Sagar , Associate Professor of English and Women's Studies, Purdue University

Banquet in honor of President Arthur G. Hansen, April 2, 2005,
Faculty Lounge West, 7:00-10:00 p.m. (pre-registration required)

Sunday, April 3

V. Evil-Talk After September 11: Is This the Final End of Theodicy? 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Roundtable discussion with all plenary participants

Moderator: Leonard Harris , Professor of Philosophy, Purdue University

A Marathon Reading of Paradise Lost - Click here for Schedule
Stewart Center Art Gallery, 1st floor Stewart, 1:30-6:30 p.m., Books 7-12

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