Who criticized the notion that a perfect world could have gone wrong?

The notion that a perfect world could have gone wrong was notably criticized by F.D.E. Schleiermacher. He engages with the theological implications of human fallibility and the idea of a perfect creation. Schleiermacher is known for his emphasis on the personal relationship with God and the experience of religious consciousness. His perspective suggests that the presence of evil and suffering in the world does not necessarily negate a perfect creation but can instead be understood through the lens of human freedom and the limits of human understanding. This challenges traditional views that position the existence of imperfection or evil as contradictory to the idea of a perfect world created by an all-good deity.

In contrast, St. Augustine, Irenaeus, and Thomas Aquinas have different interpretations regarding the problem of evil and the nature of a perfect world. Augustine, for example, emphasizes the role of human free will and original sin in explaining the imperfections of the world. Irenaeus proposes that the existence of evil serves a purpose in soul-making and moral development. Aquinas offers a more scholastic approach, arguing that God allows evil to exist for a greater good, ultimately leading to the fulfillment of divine justice. These differing philosophical and theological frameworks highlight the complexity of the discussion surrounding perfection and imper