Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Associate Prof. Shahid Madani's University of Azarbaijan, Iran. Tabriz.
Abstract
The recent crisis of the Corona Virus in the modern era is reminiscent of one of the most enduring issues in the history of philosophy and theology. Philosophers and theologians have discussed such matters as "evil." This paper also examines the crisis caused by the behavior of this virus under the same title and analyzes its various dimensions in the realm of human beliefs and emotions. In the intellectual and philosophical areas, various solutions have been proposed in this regard. None of these solutions alone can answer all the problems and justify all sorts of evils, but it seems that a combination of them can be used to explain common evils. In the emotional and existential realm, according to which the individual experiences pain and suffering with all his being, both analyzes and explanations related to the realm of beliefs are effective in order to make sense of these sufferings, and moral, emotional, and psychological care are helpful and effective in helping to alleviate people's suffering. From another point of view, the phenomenon of "coronavirus" has different and destructive effects and consequences in various cultural, social, economic and tourism fields, the solution of which requires intelligent and coordinated management.
Highlights
Introduction
A look at the history of human life on this planet clearly shows that along with all kinds of joys and pleasures, all kinds of pains and sufferings have happened to human beings and affected his life, and his mind has turned to important philosophical and theological questions. In light of these questions, an important issue in the history of philosophy and theology has been formed, which is called the "problem of evil." This issue is so important and fundamental in the new age that some philosophers of religion consider it the biggest issue in the field of religious studies.
Undoubtedly, all human beings face this problem, and important questions are posed to them in this regard. Are the propositions "God is omnipotent and omniscient and all-good, and evil exists", contradictory? If they are not contradictory, then why did God allow this evil? And what reasonable explanation can be given for this evil?
In response to the above questions, different opinions and theories have been raised throughout the history of philosophy and theology, and various books and articles have been written in this field. The purpose of this article is not to repeat those questions and answers here, but to analyze the coronavirus crisis first through analytical approach and to show that the real evil, in this case, is pain and suffering that human beings experience it in the inner world (subjectively), and these phenomena are also considered evil because they cause suffering. Secondly, various solutions can be used to explain and justify this issue. Thirdly, in addition to the solutions provided in the field of beliefs, moral, spiritual, and practical care can also be used to give meaning to existential evil.
Method
In this paper, we examine the coronavirus crisis within the framework of the problem of natural evil in the two sections of beliefs and emotions, and emphasize the effectiveness of a combination of theories, after proposing the views that posed in this regard. Finally, we discussed the effects of this crisis in various areas of analytically.
Findings
The only creature that deals with the evil problem due to the characteristics of its physical, mental, and perceptual structure is man, who suffers from both physical and mental illnesses, as well as from seeing and hearing the hardships of others and from thinking about some things. Epicurus says in this regard: "Spiritual pain is the worst pain because the body only endures the present pain, but the spirit endures the pain of the past and the future and the present" (Diogenes, 1393: 468). So the main and real evil is the same pain and suffering that belongs to the inner realm, and other evils are considered evil because they cause our suffering. Accordingly, if there is no animal or human being, there will be no evil.
In general, the way of dealing with such phenomena is twofold: sometimes a person as an observer, spectator and questioner looks at these events and interprets and analyzes them and swims in the deep sea of philosophical and theological questions. Sometimes, as a suffering actor, he deals with these events and experiences them with all his being.
In the face of the first type, the problem of evil as an important philosophical and theological problem manifests itself in several forms: the logical problem of evil, the probabilistic problem of evil, and the evidential problem of evil.
The first two problems are answered convincingly. The main problem here is the third type, and therefore different answers have been given. It seems that none of those solutions alone can answer all the questions in this field, so a combination of these solutions can be used to explain evil; that is, some evils can be explained through some solutions and others through other solutions; even in the case of a specific evil, several consistent solutions can be used.
In the field of existential evil, in addition to the above approach, what is virtually effective and soothing is attention, empathy, and love, because many of these people in this situation “need not philosophical enlightenment but pastoral care” (Chad, 2009: 139); And in such a situation, they like not to be left alone.
Because coronavirus endangers human health and life, and the danger is so widespread that it is considered a global evil and crisis, it has many devastating effects on various intellectual, theological, cultural, economic, and political fields.
Conclusion
"Coronavirus", in addition to reviving long-standing philosophical and theological questions, has other strange consequences. Shaking the world of ideas, cultural, economic-commercial, educational, political and tourism foundations are some of the effects of this small and powerful virus. With the discovery and production of vaccines and antiviral drugs by experts, its acting and mischief will end, but its roles and lessons in books and history will remain. It is expected that human beings will always learn from these lessons and will always be waiting and ready to face such poisonous guests, and always keep in mind that life is more complex and mysterious than can be imagined.
Keywords
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