Philosophical Approaches to the Devil

Benjamin W. McCraw is instructor of philosophy at the University of South Carolina Upstate, USA. His research focuses on epistemology and philosophy of religion.

This collection brings together new papers addressing the philosophical challenges that the concept of a Devil presents. Contributors approach the idea of the Devil from a variety of philosophical traditions, methodologies, and styles, providing a comprehensive philosophical overview that contemplates the existence, nature, and purpose of the Devil.

Introduction Benjamin W. McCraw and Robert Arp Part I: Divergent Conceptions of the Devil 1. Devil in the Details: Tracing the Biblical Genealogy and Origin of the Satan-Lucifer Myths Adam D. Neal 2. Nietzsche, Satan, and the Romantics: The Devil as "Tragic Hero" in Romanticism Siobhan Lyons 3. Satan, Romantic Hero or Just Another Asshole: The Desire to be God, the Devil, and the Demonic James M. McLachlan 4. Wormwood Gets Promoted: A Devilish Look at Higher Education J. Aaron Simmons Part II: The Devil in Medieval and Modern Philosophy 5. The Devil and St. Anselm Katherin A. Rogers 6. The Secret Joke of Satan's Soul Kevin Carnahan 7. "Behold, It is Cast into the Fire for Fuel": Jonathan Edwards on the Usefulness of the Wicked David Reiter 8. Descartes' Demon: More Powerful and Virtuous than God? Joshua M. Hall Part III: The Devil and Epistemology 9. A Theist's Nightmare Paul McNamara 10. "Now, Who Could it Be?": Satan and the Argument from Natural Evil James F. Sennett 11. Reformed Demonology Benjamin W. McCraw Part IV: The Devil in Moral and Social Philosophy 12. What's Wrong with Satanic Temptation? T. Ryan Byerly 13. The Devil's Philosophy of Law: Obedience and Disobedience Andre Santos Campos 14. If the Devil Did Not Exist, It May Be Necessary to Invent Him in Certain Contexts Robert Arp