The Metaphysics of Good and Evil - Scholastic Defence

In this review of The Metaphysics of Good and Evil, David S. Oderberg offers a rigorous, analytic defence of the Scholastic theory of good and evil that will appeal to readers who want a contemporary, systematic account linking Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas to modern metaphysics. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its thorough contemporary articulation of the privation theory of evil and a detailed account of how goodness can be understood as obedience to nature, making it a rare work that bridges classical Thomism and analytic philosophy.

Key Features

• Scholastic framework: Presents a full-length modern defence of the Scholastic theory, showing how classical ideas remain philosophically relevant.
• Goodness analysed: Analyses goodness as obedience to nature, clarifying how goodness applies to both non-living and living entities.
• Privation theory defended: Gives a comprehensive contemporary defence of evil as the privation of goodness, addressing conceptual challenges.
• Truthmakers for privation: Develops an account of truthmakers for truths of privation so those claims can be grounded metaphysically.
• Causation by privation: Offers an analysis of how causation by privation should be understood within a Scholastic metaphysical framework.

Who It's For

The Metaphysics of Good and Evil is best for philosophy readers interested in metaphysics, moral theory, or the history of ideas who want a sustained, scholarly defence of Scholastic positions using analytic tools. Graduate students, professional philosophers, and intellectually curious readers who appreciate close argumentation will find the work rewarding.

Readers seeking a light introduction to ethics, a survey of multiple contemporary moral theories, or a popular-audience book on applied ethics should look elsewhere; this is a dense, argument-driven book rather than a primer or casual read.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear, systematic defence of Scholastic thought in contemporary philosophical language, useful for specialists.
• Carefully analyses different kinds of goodness, helping to clarify how moral concepts apply across natural kinds.
• Offers an original and thorough treatment of privation as evil, including truthmakers and causation by privation.

Cons

• Dense, technical exposition may be challenging for readers without prior background in metaphysics or Scholasticism.

Specifications

Title	The Metaphysics of Good and Evil
Author	David S. Oderberg
Philosophical focus	Scholastic theory of good and evil
Key analyses	Goodness as obedience to nature; evil as privation
Arguments included	Truthmakers for privation; causation by privation
Intended audience	Scholars, graduate students, serious readers of metaphysics

Our Verdict

The Metaphysics of Good and Evil is a substantial, worthwhile contribution for readers committed to understanding how Scholastic insights can be revived within analytic metaphysics. It is good value for specialists and students who need a rigorous treatment of goodness and the privation account of evil, though its technical density makes it less suitable for casual readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book defend traditional Scholastic thinkers?
Yes. It explicitly defends the Scholastic theory of Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas from an analytic philosophical perspective.

Is the book suitable for beginners in philosophy?
Not ideally; the exposition is dense and argument-driven, so some background in metaphysics or ethics helps.

Does it address how evil can be caused?
Yes. The book includes a developed analysis of causation by privation and offers truthmaker accounts for privation claims.