The Problem Of Evil Flashcards
What is the problem of evil?
An argument against the existence of God that suggests an all loving and powerful God cannot exist with evil. As we know evil exist, God must not exist.
What is moral evil?
Evil caused by the free actions of humans
What is natural evil?
Evil caused by nature that humans cannot control, e.g earthquakes.
What is the logical problem of evil?
Evil is logically a problem for believers as it challenged the belief of an all loving and powerful God
- How can God be all powerful and not stop evil?
- How can God be all loving and not want to stop evil?
An all loving and powerful God cannot logically exist with evil.
Who first suggested the logical problem of evil and when?
Epicurus, in third century BCE
What is the evidential problem of evil?
Evidence for the existence of evil can be found in the seemingly unnecessarily extreme suffering of people, particularly innocent people. For example;
- Natural disasters cause suffering
- Moral evil causing humans to make others suffer
- Suffering between animals as they kill each other for food.
Why does God create such extreme suffering?
Name some philosophers that believed the problem of evil disproves God
- Epicurus
- John Stuart Mill
- Richard Dawkins
- Mackie
- Peter Vardy
What did John Stuart Mill say about the problem of evil?
Evil and suffering within the natural world is enough to prove there can be no benevolent God
What did Richard Dawkins say about the problem of evil?
Evil is present in nature, such as the dagger wasp that paralyses caterpillars to lay eggs in, killing it. Surely a loving God would not create this?
What did Mackie say about the problem of evil?
- Developed the inconsistent triad
- God cannot be all loving, knowing and powerful in evil exists.
- It is illogical that evil exists, though God knows about it, can and wants to stop it.
What did Peter Vardy say about natural law?
Developed 5 different types of natural evil;
- Natural disasters
- Disease
- Phycological issues
- Human fruity
- Animal suffering
What is the issue with out definition of evil?
