the problem of evil Flashcards
what is natural evil?
evil that results from operation of natural processes, in which no human being can be held morally accountable for this evil
what is moral evil?
the suffering and harm resulting from human actions, caused by humans free will and conscience
epicurus - problem of suffering
•logical problem of evil
•epicurus presented that idea that god of classical theism is incompatible with the existence of god
•as an omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient god would prevent evil
•either god does not have power to abolish evil or he does and does not want to - “either god wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to” - epicurus
john mackie’s - inconsistent triad
•logical problem of evil
•he developed epicurus’ theory on the problem of suffering
•he developed something called the inconsistent triad
•this means that god cannot be omnipotent and omnibenevolent as the same time as evil existing
HOWEVER he can have one of these traits but not both - because these 3 cannot simultaneously exist together
solutions to epicurus’ and john mackies argument
•augustine argues that evil doesn’t exist it’s just a privation of good
•good cannot exist without evil - we cannot appreciate the good without evil
evil as a privation - augustine
•it’s impossible for an omnibenevolent creator to create evil as a substance
•instead augustine argued that evil is just an absence or privation of good
•he argues that everything that god made is corruptible, yet having that potential is not evil. everything that is subject to change is corruptible, hence they loose their goodness, therefore evil is just a privation of good
augustine - original sin
•gods creation was originally free from evil
•it first came into existence when angels, followed by humans misused their free will and turned from god
•original sin originated when adam and eve turned against god when eating the apple - we are all a descendent of adam so all human beings carry adam’s guilt and sin
william rowe - intense human and animal suffering
•evidential problem of evil - there is evidence of pointless and avoidable evil everywhere
•rowe argues that some evil causes some greater good, however intense human suffering and animal suffering is not required for greater good
•rowe argues that an omnipotent and omniscient god would know when this unnecessary evil is taking place, thus preventing it
•therefore god of classical theism is unlikely to exist
•rowe used an example of a fawn dying in a fire in the woods - pointless
gregory paul - premature deaths
•gregory paul argues that the death of so many innocent children challenge the existence of god
•he estimated singe the time god first talked to man, that over 50 billion children died naturally before reaching what paul calls ‘the age of mature consent’
•he makes reference to the christian afterlife/heaven. in order to get into heaven humans must go through experiences on earth to render us ‘perfect’ for heaven, we need a level of maturity to exercise our free will to reach this perfection
•children simply haven’t had the time or have the maturity to do this, thus incapable of entering heaven
•this means they are either:
- put in hell or in purgatory - this seems unfair, they are in this position because of the world god created
- put in heaven - this also seems unfair as they haven’t had to prove themselves unlike the others in heaven
