The Problem of Systemic Evil for Atheists/Non-Theists

Abstract This chapter utilizes the two key theses that have been established in previous chapters: (i) the problem of systemic evil raises a more forceful challenge for traditional theists than other versions of the problem of evil and (ii) there are good reasons to think that most people, including most traditional theists and most atheists/non-theists, are modest optimists. By combining these theses, this chapter argues that there is a version of the problem of systemic evil which poses a challenge for all modest optimists. This is a significant finding because it effectively suggests that there is a version of the problem of evil that should trouble many atheists/non-theists, who are normally considered immune to the problem of evil. The chapter explains the strength of the problem by addressing the concept of gratitude and contrasting the problem of systemic evil with Janna Thompson’s ‘apology paradox’.