Eyeing the Serpent. Evil as a Philosophical, Theological, and Scientific Problem

The book “Eyeing the Serpent: Evil as a Philosophical, Theological, and Scientific Problem,” of excellent quality and philosophical and scientific depth, is precisely the result of the dialogue between thought and science and addresses one of the most persistent and disturbing challenges to human understanding: the problem of evil. Although the reality of natural evil—the suffering caused by impersonal physical events—is recognized, the central focus of this research is directed toward the distinct and possibly more perplexing phenomenon of moral evil. We are referring to the intentional infliction of suffering, derived from the human capacities for hatred, malice, and cruelty, which often intensify into a sadistic enjoyment of the pain of others. This complex behavior appears to be an anomaly of nature and is not present in nonhuman animals. Understanding this human propensity for deliberate evil, which profoundly shapes our individual psychology and our collective social structures, requires a solid interdisciplinary approach. Consequently, the work carries out dense conceptual analyses based on the most varied philosophical and theological traditions, from their origins to the present day, together with the most recent empirical findings and the most advanced theoretical models from a wide range of scientific disciplines. Contemporary contributions from neuroscience, ethology, evolutionary biology, paleoanthropology, sociology, history, and psychology, among others, are subjected to critical dialogue in parallel with ethical and metaphysical reflection. The aim is not to offer a definitive solution to the problem of moral evil, which is probably unfeasible, but to establish a more nuanced, integrated, and scientifically based understanding of its multifaceted nature, widespread impact on the human condition, and its possible origins. In this specific sense, however, the author offers a bold hypothesis he develops in depth in the work, which will undoubtedly surprise the reader. The book is intended especially for university professors, researchers, and students, particularly doctoral students, from various disciplines, as well as anyone interested in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest mysteries of human knowledge.