Evil and suffering Flashcards
Define natural evil
Evil not caused by humans - happens as a result of nautral phenomenas/God
Define moral evil
Evil caused by humans
2 examples of natural evil (from the course)
The Permian-Triassic extinction (the great dying) and Mount Vesuvius (Pompeii)
2 examples of moral evil (from the course)
Rowe - fawn dying in a forest fire, child abuse
Dostoyevsky - animal suffering and child abuse
What was the name of the novel written by Dostoyevsky?
The Brothers Karamazov
In Dostoyevsky’s novel what did Ivan state about heaven
He would hasten to return the ticket to heaven offered by God
Which problem of evil does Dostoyevsky’s novel support
Evidential problem of evil
What is the logical problem of evil
God cannot be omnipotent, omnibenevolent whilst evil exists
What is the inconsistent triad
Three statements which cannot logically coexist as they are contradictory; God is omnibenevolent, omniscient, evil exists
Who coined the phrase inconsistent triad?
Mackie
What is Epicurus’ quote regarding the logical problem of evil?
Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is impotent. Is God able to prevent evil but unwilling? Then he is malicious. Is God both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
What are the two parts to the evidential problem of evil?
- Evil is overwhelming in quantity and quality
- Pointless suffering exists
What example of moral evil supports pointless suffering?
Rowe - fawn trapped in forest fire and abuse of little girl
What example of moral evil supports evil that is overwhelming in quantity and quality?
Dostoyevsky - animal and child abuse
Who came up with a version of the free will defence only to reject it?
Mackie
What are first order goods and evils according to Mackie?
The experience in life of good and evil
What are second order goods according to Mackie?
Our responses to experiences of good and evil
One example of God using natural evil as a punishment
the Flood / 10 plagues
How would Augustine respond to natural evil?
It is part of a larger good plan
Rabi Greenberg’s quote regarding evil and suffering?
No statement, theological or otherwise, should be made that would not be credible in the presence of burning children”
Mackie’s quote on God removing evil
A wholly good being eliminates evil as far as it can
How can statement 1 (omnipotence) of the inconsistent triad be denied?
Process theodicy: God is not all powerful therefore cannot stop evil
How can statement 2 (omnibenevolence) of the inconsistent triad be denied?
Dawkins: the God of the old Testament is arguable the most unpleasant character in all of fiction
How can statement 3 (evil exists) of the inconsistent triad be denied?
Augustine - privatio boni
What does privato boni mean?
Absence of good - evil does not exist as an entity in and ofitself - it is just the absence/lack of good
What quality of God does the evidential problem of evil add to the problem of evil?
God’s omniscience
How can God’s omniscience support the problem of evil?
Why would an all knowing God create a universe/humans that he knew would cause such extensive suffering
How can the original sin be used as a defence against the problem of evil
Evil is a result of human abuse of free will
What parable did Kierkegaard propose?
The king and the humble maiden
What was the point of Kierkeegard’s parable?
God allows us to freely choose to love God - no constraints or restrictions by God therefore we have complete free will
