The Problem of Evil: Phil, Theo, Div Problems of Evil

Question 1

Understanding the problem of evil: Philosophical
The Epicurean Paradox

Answer 1

“is god willing but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god?”

Question 2

Understanding the Problem of Evil: philosophical
Mackie’s inconsistent Triad

Answer 2

A Priori argument If god was omnipotent, this would give god the power to eliminate evil. If god was omnibenveolent, god would have the motivation to prevent evil P3: nothing can exists is there is a beign with the power and motivation to eliminate it C: due to the forming of the inconsistent triad, god and evil cannot possible co-exist

Question 3

Understanding the Problem of Evil: philosophical
Syllogism Argument + criticisms

Answer 3

P1: evil and suffering existDoes it? Or is it simply the absence of good, like darkness. Therefor cant existThey could be human delusionsP2: God is all loving and All PowerfulDeism: don’t believe in a personal god, so god would therefore not fit these characteristicsZoroastrianism: god is not omnipotentP3: an all good and all powerful god would remove evil and sufferingGod may have legitimate reasons for suffering: higher goodGod cant remove suffering bc it I not logically possible

Question 4

Understanding the Problem of Evil: Philosophical
Evidential Argument: Hume

Answer 4

The rock of Atheism
Points out A Posteriori evidence in the world
* Animal suffering
* Creatures having limited ability to ensure their survival
* Nature havign extremes making life diffuculty
Why doesn’t god intervene in natural disasters
* “I conclude that however consistent the world may be … with the idea of such a God, it can never provide us with an inference to his existence.”
Believe in god is unjustified bc of tangible evidence in the world -> nothing is PROVEN

Question 5

Understanding the Problem of Evil: Philosophical
Evidential Argument: Hume argument

Answer 5

P1. We are only justified in believing what the evidence suggests (empiricism).
P2. We only have evidence of imperfection (a world with both good and evil).
C1. We are only justified in believing that imperfection exists.
C2. So, belief in a perfectly good being is not justified.

Question 6

Understanding the problem of evil: Theological
Key attribute

Answer 6

a key belief underpinning the argument of the problem of evil, god has created everything out of nothing -> ex nihilo And is therefore for repressible for everything in the universe

Question 7

Understanding the problem of evil: Theological
Syllogism

Answer 7

Id god is al powerful, then god is Abel to stop suffering He is benevolent and, in his love should want to stop all sufferingGod is omniscient and knows everything in the universe. He must, therefore see all present and future sufferingEvil and suffering do exist, so either God is not benevolent or omnipotent

Question 8

Understanding the problem of evil: Theological
Swinburne

Answer 8

“There is a problem about why God allows evil, and if the theist does not have (in a cool moment) a satisfactory answer to it, then his belief in God is less than rational, and there is no reason why the atheist should share it.”To have a rational belief in god, theists must have a satisfactory reason as to why god allows evil in the world

Question 9

Understanding the problem of evil: A Diverse
What

Answer 9

evil and suffering can be different for different people and do differnt things for different people How can this diversity be explained Eg, how people were effected by Covid