Final answer:
The concept of evil is philosophically viewed as either an independent force or as a human label for aspects of a universe created by a perfect deity. Some argue that what we label as evil contributes to the perceived perfection from a divine perspective, while others propose evil as the necessary negation of good or question the deity concept to address the problem of evil.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of evil is complex and varies across different philosophical and religious contexts. Some view evil as an independent being or force, as is common in various world religions. However, philosophers like Leibniz interpret the problem of evil as a challenge to the idea of an all-good, all-perfect deity existing alongside moral evil. This prompts reconfigurations of the concept of evil, seeing it not as an independent entity, but as a human label for what are mere aspects of a broader, divine tapestry deemed 'perfect' by the deity.
This line of reasoning suggests that what humans perceive as evil is merely a to be black smudges on an artist's canvas, which, from a distance, form part of a beautiful painting. From this perspective, evil is a necessary part of this perfect universe, and when we consider the painting as a whole, what seems to be evil actually contributes to the overall beauty and perfection. Thus, the alleged conflict between divine perfection and the existence of evil dissolves, and evil is seen as a necessary part of the best possible world created by an all-knowing deity.
Contrastingly, some African metaphysics and philosophers like Augustine and Nietzsche propose different explanations, with evil defined as the negation of good or as a necessary counterpart to it in human experience. Others question the very concept of a deity in order to resolve the problem of evil. For them, adjusting the framework around the idea of the deity may provide an alternative approach to understanding evil.