The Evidential Problem Of Evil

Question 1

What is a posteriori argument?

Answer 1

An argument based on what we’ve seen and experienced for example the evidential problem of evil

Question 2

What is the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 2

The evidential problem of evil is an a posteriori argument that claims the sheer quality and quantity of suffering in the world make the existence of benevolent and omnipotent God highly improbable.

Question 3

Who was William Rowe?

Answer 3

A 20th century philosopher

Question 4

What did William Rowe believe about the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 4

-William Rowe introduced the idea of “pointless evil”—instances of suffering that serve no greater purpose.
-He uses the example of a fawn dying painfully in a forest fire, stating, “No good we know of justifies God in permitting such horrendous suffering.”
-Rowe contends that such seemingly unnecessary suffering challenges the idea of a benevolent deity.

Question 5

What is an empiricist?

Answer 5

Someone that believes that knowledge comes from sensory experience

Question 6

Who was John Stuart Mill?

Answer 6

A British Philosopher

Question 7

What did John Stuart Mill argue about the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 7

-He asserted that the presence of evil in the world alone can be evidence against the existence of a benevolent God
-Mill stated, “The world, so far as we can see, is not governed by the principle of benevolence,” reinforcing the idea that given the scale of suffering in the world, Mill argued that it is more plausible to conclude that there is either no God or God is not benevolent but likely indifferent or even malevolent.

Question 8

How would Richard Swineburne respond to the evidential problem of evil?

Answer 8

-Richard Swinburne challenges the notion that the sheer quantity and quality of suffering is sufficient evidence against the existence of God by questioning where we draw the line for what constitutes ‘too much’ suffering.
-He raises the point that if we lived in a world where the worst possible pain was something minimal, like ‘ear flicking,’ we may still find this level of suffering significant enough to challenge the existence of God highlighting the subjective nature of the argument