The problem of evil within the context of Ibn Arabi and Derrida's thoughts

The problem of evil, being one of the most fundamental subjects of the philosophy of religion, concerns both the philosophical and religious studies, and is discussed both theologically and philosophically through various aspects. A close examination of its literature shows that many theologians and philosophers have come up with different explanations and interpretations of the problem of evil. Two prominent philosophers from considerably different traditions and eras, Ibn Arabi and Derrida, share certain similarities and parallels in their separate discourses. It is possible to deduce from these similarities and parallels a certain consistency or perspective, providing a potential for tackling various subjects through this framework. The aim of this work is to approach and interpret the problem of evil through the discourses of Ibn Arabi and Derrida. The first chapter focuses on the notion of evil, discussing its definition and variations. This work then moves on to elaborate the nature of the problem of evil, analyzing the various approaches towards this subject both in religious studies as well as philosophical discourses. The second chapter which focuses extensively on Ibn Arabi's teachings starts by referring to Sufism, Ibn Arabi's ontology, and his views on the problem of evil. On the third chapter devoted to Derrida's discourse studies deconstruction, studying its prominent concepts in general. Finally, the work moves on to discussing the similarities between Ibn Arabi and Derrida, thus reaching the final chapter. This work concludes by deducing that, through Derrida and Ibn Arabi's discourses, the simultaneous existence of evil and God does not contradict one another, and that the notion of evil is necessary for the notion of God to be comprehendible, while also inferring that the essentially contrary notions such as good and bad contain each other within themselves and therefore point to the existence of the other.