The cunning of evil. a very short introduction to Eugen Drewermann’s conception on evil

This paper explores and describes the way the German theologian and author Eugen Drewermann, which is also a psychotherapist, understands the problem of evil. His main insights are expressed in his 3-volume work Strukturen des Bösen, and cover and synthetize contributions from psychoanalysis, history of religions, structuralism, sartrian existential, social philosophy and theology. The problem of evil is not located only in the individual, but has a collective dimension that is also explored by the author. These dimensions of evil are interrelated, impossible to separate. Evil expresses itself as the repeated endeavour of man to provide himself the ontological principle and justification of its own existence that it is as the attempt to become God, as an unlimited will to power. These attempts can be seen in social engineering programs or in endeavours such as the communist revolution, liberalism, and in the striving to impose the so-called social justice in society, regardless of the consequences. The intention to do good or to undo an evil that has been committed has unforeseen consequences for the doer, the end-result being completely opposed to the intent of the action. Hence the cunning of evil terminology.