A concepção do mal a partir de Tomás de Aquino

Abstract

Faced with philosophical, existential and religious questions about the suffering that affects the world and its individuals, we seek to develop a structure that provides an understanding of the Thomasian conception of evil, starting from the concepts of finality, order and nature, which are the presuppositions of Thomas Aquinas' cosmology. After exposing these essential concepts, we move on to the Eternal and Natural Law, which constitute the modus operandi of all creation. We then set out a definition of evil, its origin and its angelic and human expression, which is transmuted into sin. Finally, we culminate in the meaning of evil, which encompasses God's will and love, through providence, predestination, justice, mercy and grace. In order to position the presence of evil in the world not as a divine will or impotence, but as aspects naturally present in creatures as mere beings and as consequences of the actions of creatures as generators of effects, who need divine help – from irrational to rational beings – to achieve their proper ends, because everything becomes good, beautiful and perfect as it reaches its purpose.