The Problems of Evil V2 Flashcards
What is Epicurus’s argument for the problem of evil
If God is willing to prevent evil but not able, then He is not omnipotent.
If God is able to prevent evil but not willing, then He is not benevolent.
If God is both able and willing to prevent evil, then why does evil exist?
If an omnipotent and omnibenevolent deity exists, why is there suffering and evil in the world? His argument highlights a logical inconsistency
“What is David Hume’s argument regarding the problem of evil, and how does it critique the existence of God?”
Argument from Design: Hume questioned the analogy between the universe and human-made objects, arguing that the universe’s complexity doesn’t necessarily imply a designer like God.
Critique of the Cosmological Argument: He challenged the idea of a necessary first cause, suggesting that the universe could be eternal or self-existent, without needing God as a cause.
Problem of Evil: Hume highlighted the contradiction between the existence of an all-powerful, benevolent God and the presence of evil and suffering in the world.l deity, rather than by trying to reconcile such a deity with the presence of evil.
What is teleological argument for the existence of God
The teleological argument suggests that the complexity, order, and purpose in the universe point to the existence of an intelligent designer, often identified as God. William Paley’s watchmaker analogy is a key example, comparing the universe’s design to that of a watch, which requires a maker. Critics argue that evolutionary theory, natural imperfections, and alternative explanations like the anthropic principle challenge the need for a divine designer.
What is ontological argument for the existence of God
asserts God, being defined as most great or perfect, must exist since a God who exists is greater than a God who does not.
What is moral argument for the existence of God
based on the experience of morality - using the apparent evidence of moral obligation between individuals to justify the existence of a powerful figure who provides a framework for that moral obligation and purpose.
What is experimental arguement for the existence of God
based on religious experiences
What are the omni attributes of God
Omniscient
Omnipotent
Omnibenevolent
Omnitemporal
Omnipresent
Omniscient
All knowing
Omnipotent
All powerful
Omnibenevolent
Possessing Perfect goodness
Omnitemporal
Existing in all places
Omnipresent
Existing at all times
If God is omniscient (all knowing), omnibenevolent (completely good), omnipresent (always present) and omnipotent (all powerful), how do we explain the existence of utterly gratuitous evil and suffering in the world?
Soul Making Theory
Free Will defense
What is the Free Will defense
God created free beings to maximize goodness.
Freedom includes the choice to do evil, which some people exercise.
This defense addresses moral evil specifically.
What is the Soul Making Theory
Proposed by Irenaeus.
Evil exists so humans can develop their souls and become good, moral people.
Experiencing evil helps build resilience and character
Atheism vs Agnosticism
An agnostic is someone who doubts it is possible to determine with certainty if a god exists, whereas an atheist is someone who rejects all belief in gods.
What is a theodicy
An attempt to show that the existence of evil does not rule out the possibility of God’s existence.
Why is there evil
World without Freedom: A world without freedom would be a worse world overall.
Problem of Evil: Addresses the challenge of reconciling the existence of evil with the existence of an all-powerful, all-good God.
What is Thomas Aquinas First Way
Argument from Motion: Everything in motion must have been set in motion by something else, ultimately leading to an unmoved First Mover—God. (cosmological)
What is Thomas Aquinas Second Way
Argument from Causation: Every effect has a cause, and there must be a First Cause that itself is uncaused—God. (cosmological)
What is Thomas Aquinas Third Way
Argument from Contingency: Contingent beings exist, so there must be a Necessary Being that has always existed—God. (cosmological)
What is Thomas Aquinas Fourth Way
Argument from Degrees: The varying degrees of perfection in the world imply the existence of an ultimate standard of perfection—God. (cosmological)
What is Thomas Aquinas Fifth Way
Argument from Design (teleological): The order and purpose observed in nature suggest the guidance of an intelligent designer—God. (teleological)
Limitations of the Cosmological argument (First four ways of Aquinas’s argument)
Don’t prove existence of specific god - not very useful for explaining of Abraham’s god
Don’t disapprove polytheism
Don’t prove existence of sentient god
Wrong in insistence of that there can’t be an infinite regress of everything - takes it as a given that there has to be a starting point for everything
Are self defeating - prove themselves wrong - if aquinas is right that everything needs a cause, then why cant others things be exempt from those rules like god (IF they can exist without God being responsible for them, then we don’t need God to establish things in the first place)
