The problem of Evil - Logical Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the logical problem
Deductive argument
The existence of God is logically impossible due to the existence of Evil in the world.
Mackie’s inconsistent triad
If God was omnipotent and omnibenevolent then Evil would not exist.
But it does.
Therefore God does not exist - The parts that make up the concept of him impossible if Evil exists.
Either God does not have the power to stop evil.
Or God does not care enough to stop evil.
Reply 1 - To Mackie’s inconsistent triad
Good cant exist without Evil
You cant appreciate good things without some bad things.
Mackie’s response
Question why cant we have good without evil?
Red analogy
If we lived in a world where everything was red.
We may not have made a word for red in this case.
We wouldnt know what it meant if someone tried to explain it to us.
It would still be the case that everything was red we just wouldn’t know it.
Same can be said for Good/evil
If God created a world without evil we wouldn’t have a concept of it.
Everything would be good we just would not be aware of it.
Reply 2 - The world is better with some evil rather than none at all.
Some evil is necessary for some types of Good.
Couldn’t be brave (Good) without having to overcome the fear of pain/death (Evil).
What are first order and second order goods?
First = Pleasure
Second =Bravery
Second order goods seek to maximise first order goods.
Second order goods are more valuable than first order.
But without first order evils second order goods could not exist.
Mackies response -
How would you explain second order evil ?
Second order evil would seek to maximise first order evil.
First = Pain
Second = Cruelty
But can be a world where people were brave (second)
in overcoming pain (first)
Without the second order evil (cruelty)
C- Why would an omnipotent/Omnibenevolent God allow the existence of second order evils if there was no greater good in doing so?
Reply 3 -
We need evil for free will
Second order evil is necessary for free will.
Free will is such a valuable good that it outweighs the suffering caused by its misuse.
It is better to have free-will than none at all
So logical for God to create both First and Second order evil.
The greater good is preserving Free will.
Mackie’s response - Why did an all knowing God not create a world where eveyrone uses their free-will to do good ?
God could have created a world where everyone freely does good.
There would still be free-will and there would be no unnecessary suffering.
Problems for the problem of evil
Plantinga
We dont need a totally convincing explanation - we can use a inductive argument
We just have to show that it is logically possible for both God and evil to exist
Free will defence
- Moral actions matter only if we’re free to choose between good or bad.
- If God made us only capable of Good we woudlnt really be free.
- Freedom is a greater good even if it leads to evil.
- It is logically possible for God to allow evil so we can have true freedom.
Plantinga - Second order evil
- some say it is not necessary
- But God may allow it as it comes from significant freedom.
- It is logically possible - Enough to defeat the problem of Evil.
Natural evil as a form of Moral evil
If people are killed in natural disasters this is not due to free will.
Plantinga - Natural evil is the result of non-human actors like Satan/Demons
So natural evil can also be explained by free will.
It is possible and so defeats the problem of evil.
Soul making
Suffering helps us to grow spiritually
We develop virtues like compassion/bravery by overcoming challenges.
