problem of evil

epicurean paradox

• presents a logical challenge to belief in a traditional concept of God by questioning how an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent being would permit evil and suffering to exist

logical problem of evil

• deductive, a priori argument

• the very existence of evil makes the existence of an Abrahamic God a logical impossibilty

mackie’s inconsistent triad

• evil, omnipotence, and omnibenevelonce form an inconsistent triad as the God of classical theism and evil cannot co- exist

natural evil

• suffering caused by the natural world

• typically involves suffering that is intense, widespread, and seemingly purposeless

William Rowe on natural evil

• uses the example of a fawn trapped in a forest fire that suffers intensely for days to illustrate how natural evil often involves prolonged suffering that serves no clear good

gregory s. paul on natural evil

• paul argued that suffering is embedded in the structure of life itself

• for most of human history, large numbers of children died before developing morally, due to disease, malnutrition and natural hazards

moral evil

• suffering caused by human choice/ free will

evidential problem of evil

• inductive, a posteriori argument

• argues that the quality, quantity, and dysteleogical nature of suffering makes the existence of an omnibenevolent and omnipotent god highly unlikely