the logical problem of evil

what is meant by omnipotent

all powerful

supremely good

can be imagined, logically possible

evil

suffering caused by either moral evil (by people) or natural evil (by nature)

what is the main aim of the arg

to argue that the existence of god is incompatible with the existence of evil

give the arg in standard form

• if God exists, then God is omnipotent

• an omnipotent being would be able to prevent or eliminate evil

• if God exists then he is supremely good

• a supremely good being would be opposed to do evil and so would prevent/eliminate evil as far as it could

• therefore exists, evil would not and could not exist

• evil exists

• therefore God doesnt exist

how can this argument be developed

could extend it also to God’s omniscience

• if god exists then he is omniscient

• an omniscient would know that evil exists and/ or that evil is about to come into existence as so would prevent it

what are response to this arg.

• the free will defence presented by plantinga

• soul making theodicy presented by Hick