the problem of evil

Question 1

define the problem of evil

Answer 1

uses the existence of evil in the world to prove god does not exist using the logical problem and evidential problem

Question 2

summarise the logical problem of evil

Answer 2

the existence of god is logically impossible given the existence of evil in the world

Question 3

summarise the evidential problem of evil

Answer 3

while it is possible god exists, the account and way in which evil is distributed in our world is pretty strong evidence god doesn’t exist

Question 4

what are the 2 types if evil

Answer 4

-moral evil
-natural evil

Question 5

define moral evil

Answer 5

evil acts committed by people e.g. murder

Question 6

define natural evil

Answer 6

sufferings as a result of natural processes e.g. earthquakes

Question 7

define the logical problem of evil

Answer 7

a priori of gods existence is logically incompatible with the existence of evil

Question 8

what against the logical problem of evil

Answer 8

free will

Question 9

who argues free will

Answer 9

Plantinga

Question 10

summerise the free will defence

Answer 10

it is logically possible that god would allow evil for a greater good

Question 11

define the free will defence

Answer 11

-a morally significant action is one that is either morally good or morally bad
-a being that is significantly free is one that is able to do or not do morally significant actions
-a being created by god to only do morally good actions would not be significantly free
-so the only way god could eliminate evil would be to eliminate significantly free beings
-but a world that contains significantly free beings is more good than one that doesn’t
-so an omnipotent and omnibenevolent god would allow evil for the greater good and freedom

Question 12

what does the free will defence conclude

Answer 12

-it is logically possible that god would allow evil for the greater good of significant freedom
-free will is inherently good and the positive of free will would outweigh the negative of people using significant free will to do evil

Question 13

what responds to Plantinga’s free will defence

Answer 13

natural evils

Question 14

define the argument of natural evil

Answer 14

-Plantinga may explain moral evil but it doesn’t explain natural evil
-people dying in earthquakes isn’t the result of freewill as we don’t choose to have natural disasters
-if an omnipotent and omnibenevolent would allow moral evil, why do they allow natural evil as well

Question 15

what responds the the argument of natural evil

Answer 15

devils or demons

Question 16

who argues the response of devils or demons

Answer 16

Plantinga

Question 17

define the response of devils or demons

Answer 17

-natural evil is a result of non human actors such as devils or demons
-makes natural evil another form of moral evil, the existence of which would be explained by free will

Question 18

define the evidential problem of evil

Answer 18

god could logically allow some evil but the sheer amount of evil and how its distributed suggests god doesn’t exist

Question 19

what’s and example of evidential evil

Answer 19

-innocent babies born with painful congenital diseases

Question 20

what does the baby example conclude

Answer 20

-millions of innocent people are killed throughout history for no reason
-would an omnipotent and omnibenevolent god allow such evil

Question 21

how does the baby example apply to god

Answer 21

if god exists there would be less evil and it would be less concentrated on those undeserving of it

Question 22

what does the evidential problem of evil conclude

Answer 22

the way evil is distributed in the world is strong evidence god does not exist

Question 23

what responds to the evidential problem of evil

Answer 23

soul making

Question 24

who argues soul making

Answer 24

John Hick

Question 25

define soul making

Answer 25

humans are unfinished beings and our purpose in life is to develop personally, ethically and spiritually

Answer 26

we need certain evils in order to develop these virtues
god could have given us these virtues but through hard work and discipline are good in a richer more valuable sense
god allows evil to develop necessary virtues