The Logical Problem Of Evil Flashcards
What is the Logical Problem of Evil?
It is a Deductive Argument (it relies on certain premises to be true) that argues that the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient and omni-benevolent is logically incompatible with the existence of evil
Who was Epicurus and what did he say about the logical problem of evil?
-Epicurus was a pre-Christian Greek philosopher
-he said “is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent… Is he both able but not willing then whence evil” highlighting the fact that the God of classical theism who is believed to be
both omnipotent and omni-benevolent does not exist as a God like that could not coexist with evil
Who was David Hume and what did he say about the logical problem of evil?
-David Hume was a Scottish Empiricist (empiricism is the belief that we are only justified in believing what evidence suggests)
-He said “there can be no grounds for such influence when there are so many misfortunes in the universe” outlining the
idea that evidence proves there can’t be
God because there are so many misfortunes
-he restated the logical problem of evil as it was first put forward by Epicurus:the existence of evil is incompatible with a morally perfect and omnipotent deity
Who was J.L Mackie and what did he believe about the problem of evil?
-J.L was an Australian philosopher who created the idea of the “inconsistent triad”
-this is the idea that there is clear evidence and experience of evil therefore either God is not omnipotent or he is neither good or loving
