theme 2 - problem of evil

Question 1

What is moral evil?

Answer 1

Moral evil is understood as any suffering that is brought about by the actions of a free-will agent

Question 2

What ability do free-will agents have?

Answer 2

Free-will agents have the ability to choose ‘good’ or ‘evil’

Question 3

What philosophical issue does moral evil raise?

Answer 3

One of the main philosophical issues raised by moral evil is whether God could have chosen to create a world without evil

Question 4

Could God have made us differently regarding moral evil?

Answer 4

Yes, the question arises whether God could have made us differently to avoid moral evil

Question 5

List some examples of moral evil.

Answer 5

• Murder
• Theft
• Violence
• Rape
• Slavery
• Child abuse
• Animal cruelty
• Terrorism
• Adultery
• Dishonesty
• Any form of negative discrimination
• Genocide

Question 6

What is natural evil?

Answer 6

Natural evil is understood as any suffering that is brought about as a consequence of the events outside the control of free-will agents.

Question 7

What are some examples of natural evil?

Answer 7

• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Flooding
• Drought
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Extremes in temperature (hot and cold)
• Disease
• Aging
• Crop failure
• Forest fires
• Pollution
• Global warming

Question 8

Can free-will agents cause suffering related to natural evil?

Answer 8

Yes, occasionally free-will agents can set in motion a series of events that result in suffering that was not intended

Question 9

Is it debatable whether unintended suffering caused by free-will agents constitutes moral evil?

Answer 9

Yes, it is debatable whether this suffering constitutes moral evil or not

Question 10

Fill in the blank: Natural evil is suffering that results from events outside the control of _______

Answer 10

[free-will agents]

Question 11

What is the God of classical theism characterized by?

Answer 11

A being that holds particular characteristics
The characteristics include attributes like omnipotence, omniscience, and benevolence

Question 12

What philosophical problems do suffering and evil present?

Answer 12

They present particular problems for each of the characteristics of the God of classical theism

Question 13

If God was all loving, what would he want to do?

Answer 13

He would want to end suffering

Question 14

If God was all powerful, what would he be able to do?

Answer 14

He would be able to end suffering

Question 15

If God was all knowing, what would he know how to do?

Answer 15

He would know how to end suffering

Question 16

If God is all knowing, what does he know about future events?

Answer 16

He would know how future events would turn out

Question 17

What is God ultimately responsible for due to creating ex-nihilo?

Answer 17

He is ultimately responsible for all that is

Question 18

Who is the philosopher associated with the quote about God and evil?

Answer 18

Epicurus

Question 19

What is the first question posed by Epicurus regarding God’s ability to prevent evil?

Answer 19

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent

Question 20

What conclusion does Epicurus reach if God is able to prevent evil but not willing?

Answer 20

Then he is malevolent

Question 21

What dilemma does Epicurus present if God is both able and willing?

Answer 21

Then whence cometh evil?

Question 22

What is the implication if God is neither able nor willing according to Epicurus?

Answer 22

Then why call him God?

Question 23

which philosopher came up with the inconsistent triad?

Answer 23

• mackie

Question 24

what is the inconsistent triad?

Answer 24

• triangle, each corner saying omnipotence, omnibenevolence, evil exists
• if we remove one of the points, the problem is solved

Question 25

what does hume say about evil existing

Answer 25

- we cannot remove evil exists because there is too much evidence of evil and suffering - if we remove one of the attributes then it is no longer the god of classical theism - such god is not worthy of worship

Question 26

What is the scenario described in the thought experiment?

Answer 26

A toddler playing in the kitchen while a parent uses the oven

Question 27

What action does the parent take when the toddler touches the hot oven?

Answer 27

The parent smacks the toddler's hand

Question 28

What consequence does the toddler face in the thought experiment?

Answer 28

The toddler suffers as a result of touching the hot oven

Question 29

Why did the toddler touch the hot oven?

Answer 29

The toddler was unaware of the danger

Question 30

What does the toddler lack that leads to his action?

Answer 30

The toddler lacks the parent's perspective

Question 31

What analogy is made regarding creation in the thought experiment?

Answer 31

Creation does not share God's perspective

Question 32

Who widely rejected the analogy of the toddler and the parent?

Answer 32

Hume

Question 33

What reason does Hume give for rejecting the analogy?

Answer 33

The effects of evil are felt too widely and vividly

Question 34

What is Rowe's argument regarding God and suffering?

Answer 34

Rowe argued that while it seemed reasonable for God to allow some limited suffering to enable human growth, he could not accept God allowing intense suffering

Question 35

How does Rowe view animal suffering?

Answer 35

Rowe believes that animal suffering seems pointless

Question 36

What distinguishes Rowe's approach from Epicurus and Mackie?

Answer 36

Rowe's approach is based on evidence, unlike Epicurus and Mackie, who were only concerned with the logical problem of evil

Question 37

What is Rowe's version of the problem of evil called?

Answer 37

'The Evidential Problem of Evil'

Question 38

What example does Rowe use to illustrate his point?

Answer 38

Rowe uses the example of a fawn caught in a forest fire

Question 39

What characteristics does Rowe attribute to God in his argument?

Answer 39

An omnipotent and omniscient being would know when intense suffering was about to take place, and an all-loving being would prevent pointless suffering

Question 40

What conclusion does Rowe reach regarding God's existence?

Answer 40

Rowe concludes that God probably does not exist due to the existence of pointless evil and suffering

Question 41

What does Gregory Paul argue about premature death?

Answer 41

Gregory Paul argues that the death of many innocent children challenges the existence of God

Question 42

How many children does Gregory Paul estimate have died before reaching maturity?

Answer 42

Over 50 billion children since the time God first spoke to man as recorded in sacred texts

Question 43

What term does Gregory Paul use to describe the death of many children?

Answer 43

'The holocaust of the children'

Question 44

what does gregory paul conclude about suffering

Answer 44

- Millions of innocent children suffer and die every year, from both natural and evil causes. - These children are too young to be able to make choices about God, they have no free will. - No omnibenevolent, omnipotent being would permit such suffering. - Therefore, God does not exist.