The Problem of evil Flashcards
What type of argument is the problem of evil?
It is a logical problem, so it is an a priori argument.
What was Epicurus’ inconsistent triad?
God is omnibenevolent. God is omnipotent. Evil and suffering exists.
Give Hume’s quote.
“Epicurus’s old questions are yet unanswered. Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able but not willing? Then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?”
What does Mackie say about the problem of evil?
A good thing will always eliminate evil as far as it can
There are no limits to what an omnipotent thing can do.
A good omnipotent being will eliminate evil completely
Conclusion - evil and God cannot both exist
What type of argument is the evidential problem of evil?
It is a posteriori
Give Mill’s quote.
“nearly all the things which men are hanged or imprisoned for doing to one another are nature’s every day performances”
What does Mill say about how nature treats mankind?
Nature burns men to death, crushes them with stones, starves them, freezes them with cold, poisons them…no regard for mercy or justice. Not only does nature take life, it takes the means by which people live e.g. a hurricane destroys the hopes of a season.
What evidence does Paul give for evil?
50% of pregnancies fail
Only a small fraction of prenatal infant deaths are caused by humans.
Most infant and child deaths are caused by diseases and floods
Billions of children have died in 10000 generations - no chance to hear the Christian message, no free will. No earthly experience to develop virtues.
What example does Rowe give for the evidential problem of evil?
Rowe thinks it is best to focus on particular kind of evil that is found in our world in abundance. He therefore selects “intense human and animal suffering” as this occurs on a daily basis, there are many examples of it, and is a clear case of evil
What does Rowe say about human and animal suffering?
It is a case of intrinsic evil: it is bad in and of itself, even though it sometimes is part of or leads to, some good state of affairs.
What is Rowe’s first premise?
There exist instances of intense suffering which an omnipotent, omniscient being could have prevented without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse
What is Rowe’s second premise?
An omniscient, wholly good being would prevent the occurrence of any intense suffering it could, unless it could not do so without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse.
What is the conclusion of Rowe’s argument?
There does not exist an omnipotent omniscient wholly good being.
