J.J Mackie Flashcards
What is the problem of evil?
the problem of evil is an argument against the existence of an all-loving, all0-knowing, all-powerful God allowing suffering in our World
Who is JJ Mackie?
He was an atheist philosopher and took Hume’s ideas further. He rejected some of the usual answered to the problem of evil that Christians often give.
What is JJ Mackies first point?
Evil is necessary as an opposite of good.
Mackie rejected this: even if it is true that we need some evil and suffering to help us to appreciate the good, we only need a little bit.
He argues that there is far more and far worse suffering than is needed to contrast with the good in the world.
JJ Mackies second point.
Evil helps us to become better people:
He rejected this traditional Christian argment that suffering helps us to become better people. Why should God need to make us better through suffering? Why not just make us perfect to start with?
If this is true then why does suffering often make people worse not better?
JJ’s third point.
Evil is a consequence of free will:
Both St Augustine and John Hick rely on the absence of free will to explain why God allows evil to exist.
He rejects this because why couldn’t an omnipotent God simply make free human beings who always choose good instead of evil? He also feels that evil and suffering is too high a price to pay for having free will.
quotes
God is omnipotent; God is wholly good; and yet evil exists.
A good omnipotent being would remove evil completely.
How can this change an atheists life?
An Atheist and humanist may question why they should worship a God who is not all-loving and may even enjoy seeing humans suffer.
They would instead look to science and the laws of their country for guidance instead of religion.
