The Symbolism of Evil is part of Paul Ricoeur’s larger project in the philosophy of symbolism and hermeneutics. Written in 1960, it explores how human beings articulate experiences of evil, guilt, and sin through symbolic language—particularly myth and religious imagery. Ricoeur is not interested in giving a doctrinal or theological account of evil but in showing how symbols themselves generate reflection and meaning. His famous phrase, “the symbol gives rise to thought,” is the cornerstone of this work.
Key Themes
1. The Role of Symbols
Ricoeur argues that symbols are not ornamental but foundational to thought. They communicate realities that cannot be fully captured in rational, abstract language. Symbols of evil—stain, defilement, guilt, sin—carry a depth of meaning that philosophical concepts alone cannot express.
2. The Phenomenology of Evil
Ricoeur approaches evil phenomenologically, examining how it is experienced and expressed in consciousness. He distinguishes between:
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Defilement (stain) – evil as a pollution or contamination.
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Sin – evil understood in moral and relational terms.
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Guilt – the internalization of sin, shaping conscience and selfhood.
Each stage reflects a deepening of self-awareness and responsibility.
3. Myths and Narratives of Evil
The book analyzes myths from diverse cultures—biblical, Greek, Mesopotamian—to show how humanity has narrated the origin of evil. Myths of the fall, chaos, and cosmic disorder represent collective attempts to interpret why evil exists and how it affects human destiny.
Ricoeur treats myth not as primitive superstition but as a vehicle of truth, providing symbolic frameworks that shape human self-understanding.
4. The Hermeneutics of Symbols
Interpreting symbols requires a hermeneutical approach. Ricoeur proposes a twofold movement:
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First Naïveté – immediate immersion in symbolic language, often religious or mythical.
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Critical Distance – applying philosophy, science, or psychoanalysis to analyze symbols.
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Second Naïveté – a renewed appreciation of symbols after critique, where their depth is appropriated into thought and existence.
This structure becomes one of Ricoeur’s most influential contributions to hermeneutics.
5. Evil, Freedom, and Human Nature
Underlying the study of symbols is the question of human freedom and fallibility. Ricoeur presents evil not as an external force but as tied to the fragility of human freedom. The symbols of evil express this fragility: the human tendency to fail, to misuse freedom, and to distort relationships with self, others, and the divine.
The Significance of The Symbolism of Evil
The Symbolism of Evil demonstrates Ricoeur’s method of using symbols and myths to deepen philosophical inquiry. Rather than dismissing symbolic discourse as irrational, he shows that symbols are generative of reflection, opening pathways to understanding guilt, responsibility, and the tragic dimension of human existence.
This work set the foundation for Ricoeur’s later developments in hermeneutics, narrative identity, and biblical interpretation, and remains a landmark in 20th-century philosophy of religion and culture.
Other Books by Ricoeur:
