The existence of radical evil in Peter Olivi
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Peter Olivi repeatedly uses the word “radical” in his works. While this word sometimes means a foundation, it also includes the sense of something absolute or extreme. In this sense, Olivi uses the expression “radical evil”, which he defines as “willing with all one’s force something that is most insulting toward God and those who belong to him.” In this article, I try to make clear what Olivi means by this definition. I show that the issue is not willing evil for the sake of evil, although for Olivi, there are real cases of strict akrasia. In fact, the acratic understand actually and in general that their choice is contrary to the good. The possibility of acratic action is rooted in a will that is absolutely self-determining and able to will otherwise. The motive of such a choice consists in proud self-love, which is so excessive that it contradicts the will of God and uses others as a means to power. Finally, I show that Olivi also uses the expression “radical virtue,” which is so strong that it approaches a form of self-annihilation for the sake of God.
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