the epicurean paradox

Question 1

the problem of evil is traditionally defined as the ___________ _____. In ancient times it was posed by ________, and _____ ____ would return to it

Answer 1

• inconsistant triad
• Epicurus
• David Hume

Question 2

1. If God were all powerful he’d…
2. If God were all loving, then he’d…
3. But ____ exists
   Therefore, God isn’t _____________ or __________, or both

Answer 2

1. be able to abolish evil
2. would wish to abolish evil
3. evil
   - omnipotent / omnibenevolent

Question 3

strength (christianity and evil)

Answer 3

Evil does exist. Christians too believe that pain is pain even if it were a figment of imgination. The bible also describes evils such as famines, murders etc.

Question 4

strength (karamzaov brothers)

Answer 4

Intensity of evil cannot be ignored - killing babies w bayonets

Question 5

strength (basis of athieistic claims (link to epicureans rock of athiesm))

Answer 5

the problem of evil is a prominent argument in the rejection of [a] God

Question 6

weakness (our understanding of the character of God)

Answer 6

Based on the qualities of God which are only our interpretations of his characteristics

Question 7

weakness (evil isn’t a substance)

Answer 7

evil is only an absence of good

Question 8

weakness (Mackie’s triad)

Answer 8

can be overcome [Augustine’s theodicy]

Question 9

weakness (logical problem)

Answer 9

the logical problem has no sensory explanations & falls weak next to evidential arguments, based on empirical solutions

Question 10

weakness (omnipotent God?)

Answer 10

God is not omnipotent so cannot remove the evil. Evil can exist as matter in this world - Plato thought the demiurge fashioned the universe with pre-existent matter