A ideia do mal no comentário ao Gênesis de Santo Agostinho

Abstract

The problem of evil permeates all cultures, being the question that initially moves the philosophical-theological thought of Augustine of Hippo. In this study, the Augustinian concept of evil is presented in the light of commentaries on the book of Genesis. It is understood, based on Augustine, that every work of God is good and, therefore, cannot be corrupted in essence. Evil, therefore, arises from the misuse of free will. In order to illustrate the argument developed, we resort to some of the main images contained in the narrative of the sin of disobedience, as available in Genesis, such as the issue of work as punishment, the fruit of the forbidden tree, in addition, notably, to the papers of Adam, Eve and the serpent in the formulation of the plot. In the background remains the Augustinian discussion about evil because of the degenerate use of freedom.