1.6 - The problem of evil Flashcards
The logical problem of evil
-a loving god would want to prevent evil
-if god can do anything then he would be able to prevent evil
Inconsistent triad
-god is perfectly good
-god is all-powerful
-evil and suffering exist
The evidential problem of evil
-a posteriori argument which finds the best explanation for our experiences
-uses the evidence of the human experience
Mill’s evidential argument
-natural world full of evil, gives examples of suffering
-argues evidence points to a bad god not a good one
-if there is a god he isnt benevolent, cant use him as a guide for a good life
What is a theodicy
-an attempt to justify god and show his good character
What is a theodicy
-an attempt to justify god and show his good character
-first used by leibniz
What is natural evil
-evil and suffering not caused by human wrongdoing
-eg earthquakes, illnesses
What is moral evil
-evil and suffering caused by human wrongdoing
-eg war, bullying, greed, selfishness
-also caused by suffering due to lack of good done
Problems with distinction between evil
-could be argued that all suffering is the result of moral evil, especially with the belief that the fall caused it all
-could also be argued all suffering is due to natural evil as we are made in a way that allows suffering
Successes of distinctions between evil
-hard to blame humanity for natural evil so moral evil gives a different explanation
Augustines views on evil
-evil is not a real quality its a privatio boni, a lack of good
-did not have its own existence was a falling away from goodness
Augustine on variety
-part of the goodness and perfection of the world
-each part of creation is good in its own right even tho it is lacking certain qualities, doesnt make it evil
-it is inevitable that the world will be rich and varied
The fall of the angels
-evil came into the world through the fall of the angels
-they were created perfect but some given less grace
-they then fell away from god due to their misuse of free will
The results of the fall
-this was then repeated by adam and eve in the fall of humanity in the garden of eden
-all evil in the world came from this
-perfect angels fighting for good, the fallen ones pervert world
The Irenaean theodicy
-god allows evil into the world and it was deliberately created to help humans grow and develop
-we wont appreciate good without evil, things we take for granted as good only exist as we have a comparative
Irenaeus’ idea of free will
-when god made people in his image he must have given them free will as he has it himself
-there would’ve been no point in making humanity if they had no free will
Irenaeus’ distinction between gods image and likeness
-god made us in his image but we have to grow into his likeness
-in gods image we have the choice to be moral agents
-in gods likeness we have to develop and mature to reach our potential
Irenaeus’ views on good
-god gave us goodness when we were made + the other qualities which go with it, goodness obsolete otherwise
-part of being good is making the right conscious choice
-if god stopped every wrong choice then no free will
Irenaeus on gods likeness
-humanity is not capable of gods likeness in this world only happens after death
-essential to Irenaean theodicy that everyone lives after death and continues their development
Hicks views on the problem of evil
-evil and suffering are not an accident, they are problems god wishes he could solve but is unable
-god gave us the world where we could have the best relationship with him
Epistemic distance
-distance in knowledge, god remains partially hidden from humanity does not make his existence obvious
-if god were to reveal himself then faith in him is not a choice, hick thinks god wants us to have that choice
Hicks views on life after death
-hardships can only be justified if there’s an afterlife
-our ‘soul-making’ experiences are preparing us for it
-people continue with growth in the afterlife and everyone is saved in the end, regardless of faith
DZ Phillips’ criticism of hick
-not right to suggest god allows evil and planned it to happen
-a god who allows that much suffering is evil
