Saint Augustine, who lived in the late 4th and early 5th centuries, created a very interesting perspective on the notion of evil. Augustine first views of evil followed the doctrine of the Manichaen Dualists’. Their idea was that there were two omnipotent forces, good and evil, constantly fighting. Both forces, according to the Manichaen Dualists’, were of equal power. Augustine later rejected this idea and developed his own theory on the nature of evil. Saint …showed first 75 words of 1104 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1104 total…shall I say what it is not, since evil does not really exist. Saint Augustine’s view is important because his philosophy stresses that all beings are created good and then are corrupted, or become evil by free will. The choices made throughout an individual’s life determine whether he/she is good or evil, rejecting any notion of fate or predetermination. Later philosophers, like Rousseau and Locke will expand upon Saint Augustine’s view.