Problem of evil and suffering 3.1 Flashcards
What are the 2 kinds of evil?
Natural evil (e.g. natural disaster)
Moral evil (e.g. sin such as lying)
How does Islam approach the problem of evil and suffering?
Everyone is born with the instinct to know right from wrong and have free will to make their decisions to avoid evil and suffering.
How does Buddhism approach the problem of evil and suffering?
Evil doesn’t exist, is created by humanity.
How does Theism approach the problem of evil and suffering?
Accepts that, as part of their faith, bad things happen and that that is natural in any relationship of love.
Describe the inconsistent triad.
The dilemma that the 3 principles of evil existing, God being omnipotent and God being omnibenevolent cannot logically be believed to be true at the same time.
What is J.L.Mackie’s development of the inconsistent triad?
“A wholly good and omnipotent being would eliminate evil completely. If there is evil, there cannot be such a being.”
P1 God is omnipotent so can stop evil
P2 God is omnibenevolent so wants to stop evil
P3 God is omniscient so knows how to stop evil
P4 Evil exists
C Therefore, the God of classical theism does not exist.
What are adequate solutions?
Solutions that avoid the problem altogether e.g. changing God’s definition by denying or limiting his omnipotence e.g. process theodicy.
What are fallacious solutions?
Solutions that attempt to solve the problem whilst retaining Gods traditional definition by, for example, acknowledging that suffering exists but suggesting it is a necessary element in human moral development or that it is a necessary counterpart for good.
What is the paradox of omnipotence?
Mackie’s paradox that whether an omnipotent being can create something he cannot control…a bring with freewill.
If he can create something he cannot control = not omnipotent.
If he cannot create something he cannot control = not omnipotent.
Mackie compares God’s power with parliamentary sovereignty - the power to make laws. He questions whether it is possible for a parliament to make a law restricting its own legislative power…similarly can an omnipotent being create rules which then bind them? Mackie says this cannot be satisfactorily by either yes or no!
What is the evidential problem of evil?
