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The Problem of Evil - Coggle Diagram
The Problem of Evil
The logical problem of evil as a version of the problem of evil (Mackie)
Mackie argues that an all-powerful God would be able to stop evil and an all-loving God would be motivated to stop evil
Logically, something can't exist if there's a being with the power and motivation to eliminate it
So, if evil exists, then God cannot exist
Evil, omnipotence and omnibenevolence form an inconsistent triad - meaning they cannot all exist
The evidential problem of evil as a version of the problem of evil (Hume or Rowe)
Hume puts forward an evidential problem of evil
Hume thinks it is actually logically possible for God and evil to exist
However, evil is evidence against God's existence
The evidence of evil that we see in the world means belief in God is not justified
There could be a God technically, but the evidence is against it
Augustine's theodicy (response to the problem of evil)
Augustine says that God allows evil because we deserve it
He says "evil is either sin or ounishment for sin"
The 'fall' of humanity due to Adam and Eve disobeying God cause original sin - a corruption in human nature giving us an irresistible temptation to sin. This explains moral evil - the evil humans do to each other
As punishment, God banished us from the garden of Eden into this fallen world, which explains natural evil - evil resulting from the workings of the natural world e.g. disease and natural disasters
Augustine vs. the logical problem
Original Sin violates moral responsibility and incompatibility with omnibenevolence
Criticism of Augustine: how can it be fair for us it be punished for the actions of Adam and Eve?
Their disobedience was not our fault, so it cannot be loving for God to punish us for that
Evaluation of Augustine vs. the logical problem
Augustine responds: we aren't punished for their actions, we are punished because we are sinful beings - because we are born with original sin
Augustine vs. the evidential problem
Criticism of Augustine: there is lots of scientific evidence against the fall - evolution suggests we evolved
The idea that sin is inherited is unscientific nonsense
Evaluation of Augustine vs. the evidential problem
Maybe the fall story didn't happen - but there is still good evidence for original sin - look at how terrible humans are e.g. Nazis
Irenaeus and Hick vs. the logical problem
Criticism of Irenaeus/Hick: why didn't God just create us good to begin with...?
This whole process of soul-making is unnecessary and evil
Evaluation of Irenaeus and Hick vs. the logical problem
However, Irenaeus/Hick argue God can't make us good
A good person is one who has freely chosen good over evil. If God
makes
us good - then we aren't really choosing good ourselves, and then we wouldn't really be good
So, soul-making is necessary
Irenaeus and Hick's theodicy (response to the problem of evil)
God allows evil because it serves the good purpose of soul-making - character development
To become good people and deserve heaven, we must choose good over evil
In that case, we need evil in order to become good
e.g. of you see someone suffering from disease, you might become a better person through being more compassionate
So, evil is required for us to be able to develop into good people who deserve to go to heaven
Irenaeus and Hick vs. the evidential problem
Criticism of Irenaeus/Hick: there is lots of evil that does not help soul-making
e.g. a child who dies of cancer - they were too young to understand what was happening, there's now way that evil helped them become a better person - in fact it prevented that
Some evil is soul-breaking, causing people to become depressed etc. - it's not soul-making
Evaluation of Irenaeus and Hick vs. the evidential problem
Maybe other people could have learned lessons from the child dying
e.g. their parents