The FWD Flashcards
What is the free will defence ?
A philosophical argument that offers a compelling response to the problem of evil by asserting that the existence of moral evil is a necessary consequence of God granting humans free will, which is a greater good
Who is Plantinga?
A contemporary philosopher
What did Plantiga believe about the FWD?
-Alvin Plantinga argues that genuine freedom is essential for moral responsibility; if individuals cannot choose evil, their choices lack significance.
-The fact that free creatures sometimes go wrong does not negate God’s omnipotence or goodness; God could only forestall the occurrence of moral evil by removing the possibility of moral good.
What did Plantiga quote about the FWD?
-He asserts that “a world containing creatures who are significantly free is more valuable” than one devoid of free will. This suggests that an omnipotent and wholly good God would create beings with free will, even if it risks moral evil.
–In a world where humans are programmed to only choose good, moral actions would be devoid of significance, and love for God or others would lack authenticity.
-Thus, the presence of evil is a necessary condition for the existence of genuine moral agents.
Who was Richard Swineburne?
-A liberal theologian and thinker
-Richard Swinburne complements Plantinga’s perspective by highlighting that the existence of evil allows for significant moral and spiritual development, which would otherwise be impossible.
What did Swineburne say about the FWD?
-He contended that the world must contain genuine suffering to allow humans to grow morally and spiritually, asserting that “the less God allows men to bring about large-scale horrors, the less freedom and responsibility he gives them.”
-if we seek less suffering, we are asking God to create a “toy world” where moral choices lack significance undermining the purpouse of creation. The presence of suffering is thus essential for a world where human decisions genuinely matter.
What does Swiburne say about natural evil?
-Richard Swinburne also addresses natural evil by arguing that it plays a crucial role in providing the conditions for moral and spiritual development.
-He asserts that natural suffering allows humans to develop virtues that would not be possible in a world without challenges: “a situation of temperature with infinite chances is not a situation of temptation at all,” implying that the presence of genuine challenges, such as natural evils, creates the context in which individuals can make significant moral decisions and respond with courage and compassion.
-He also argues that death, while a natural evil, serves an important role by preventing the elderly from enduring endless suffering and allowing the young to replace them and contribute fresh perspectives and energy to the world. In this view, natural evil is not gratuitous but serves a greater purpose in a world designed for moral and spiritual development.
Who is J.L Mackie?
20th century British philosopher
What are the weakness of the FWD?
-J.L. Mackie challenges Plantinga’s defense by arguing that an omnipotent and wholly good God could have created a world where free creatures always choose to do good, thus avoiding moral evil.
-Mackie raises the question of why a benevolent deity would permit the potential for moral evil when a better alternative exists—namely, a world where creatures are free but always choose good.
-William Rowe’s fawn argument
What would Plantiga’s response be to Mackie’s argument?
Alvin Plantinga describes Mackie’s argument as “positively irrational,” highlighting its neglect of free will’s necessity for meaningful moral decisions.
