Naturalizing and Systematizing Evil
— Drees, Is Nature Ever Evil, 2003

"Naturalizing and Systematizing Evil." Pages 67-86 in Willem B. Drees, ed., Is Nature Ever Evil? Religion, Science and Value (London: Routledge, 2003).
Online at: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/37442

Negative evils (disvalues) in natural systems, though real enough to fauna and flora adversely affected, must be fitted into an ecosystemic and evolutionary framework, with both conservation of life and generating and testing of novel life forms. Struggle and stress are as essential as life support. Such genesis is always by conflict and resolution. Life is perpetually renewed in the midst of its perpetual perishing.