Refutation of the Sects (1959) - Page 8


a) Neither Men 58-62
a') Suppose that those who are evil were evil by nature; it would then be necessary to have pity on them and not to punish them 58.	30	35
b') In reality, we see that the wicked are punished. It is therefore voluntarily that they do evil 59.	30	35
c') Those who do evil do not wish to be called by the name used for those who do such evil. Therefore, they have a certain sense of the good opposed to this evil 60.	31	35
d') The hypocrite himself, in order to do evil, is obliged to feign the good 61.	31	36
e') He who wishes to make a harsh prince mild employs gentleness. The same applies to appeasing angry people, those in grief, or those prey to envy 62.	31	36
b) Neither Beasts 63-67
a') There were created: domestic beasts, for our needs; wild beasts, to inspire in men the fear of God 63.	31	36
b') Evil beasts are sometimes useful. Theriacoriginal: "thériaque". A famous ancient medical compound used as an antidote for poison; it often contained the flesh of vipers, illustrating how a "bad" creature provides a "good" cure., derived from the serpent. And even the serpent can be tamed 64.	32	36
c') If it is a pagan who believes in the existence of an evil being, he is refuted by snake charmers and serpent-worshipers. The dragon Bel, the Babylonians; Daniel 65. A reference to the biblical story of Bel and the Dragon, found in the Greek additions to the Book of Daniel, where Daniel proves a dragon is not a god.	32	37
d') If it is a Mageoriginal: "mage". Refers to the Zoroastrian priests or Manichaean thinkers who proposed a dualistic universe where good and evil are two equal, competing forces., a response based on common sense will silence him 66.	32	37
e') If evil beasts had been created evil by an evil being, all their parts would be evil. Yet this is not at all the case 67.	32	37
c) Neither Plants 68
The same applies to garden herbs; some, taken alone, cause death; mixed with others, they are salutary 68.	33	38
Conclusion to b) and c) 69.	33	38
B. SECOND RESPONSE, THEOLOGICAL, FOR THE FAITHFUL 70-71
a) Relative to wild beasts 70.	34	39
b) Relative to torrid heat and frost 71.	34	39
b. ILLNESS AND DEATH DO NOT PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF A CREATOR OF EVIL 72-96.	34	40
a. FIRST RESPONSE: BY REASON 73-75.	35	40
Dilemma posed to the adversaries 74.	35	40
Consequences in each of the two cases 75.	35	40