Bayle and Hume

Present Bayle’s arguments for his conclusion in Chapter 5. How does Hume expand on Bayle’s argument? What potential objections does Hume consider, and how does he respond to them? Do you find his reasoning convincing?

Bayle argues that reason cannot reconcile with the existance of evil with a God that it…

All-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good

Why does Bayle think that there is a disproportional amount of evil (pain) compared to pleasure?

The best, most desired goods are often attained with disproportionately little pleasure in their attainment

What are some examples of goods that are often attained with disproportionately little pleasure in their attainment?

Health success and relationships create only mild, fleeting pleasure compared to how much effort and suffering it takes to attain them

How do the slightest evils contrast with the best and most desired goods?

The slightest evils can produce significant amounts of suffering with little effort.

What are some examples of how the slightest evils can produce significant amounts of suffering with little effort

Minor pains (such as a toothache) can produce intense and overwhelming amounts of pain that grip our consciousness, more than pleasure

What is an example of how pleasure fades quickly?

We tend to adapt to good things and accept them as the status quo (like health); anything less becomes painful

How does Bayle think that theodicies fail in their notions that “Evil is necessary for the greater good”

If God were truly omnibenevolent, then he would be able to prevent suffering without infringing on our free will, (like making sinning less appealing)

How does Bayle think that theodicies fail in their notions that “Evil manifests God’s divine justice and wisdom”

The fact that God cannot manifest his wisdom and justice without evil implies that he is not all-powerful

How does Bayle think that theodicies fail in their notions that “Evil comes from free will”

It challenges the notion of an all-powerful God who could create beings with free will that do not choose evil. Thus, God’s failure to prevent such evil undermines his omnipotence.

What is Bayle’s main conclusion in his Xenophanes argument?

In general, pain outweighs pleasure.

Does Bayle think that pain always outweighs pleasure?

No, there are some who experience more good than evil and those who experience more evil than good.

Bayle believes that there are a few individuals who might live a life where pleasure outweighs pain. However, Bayle thinks that these instances are limited to what?

Cases where one dies in the prime of their life.

How does Hume expand of Bayle’s point that “ the worse life is, the harder it is to justify the existence of God”

Hume argues that if we concede the existence of natural evils, then we have no basis to claim to know God’s moral goodness existence

What is Hume’s evidence that life is on the whole miserable?

Through the unhappiness of man, the corruptness of our nature and how pleasures seem unsatisfactory

Hume contends that even if the ______ of pleasures outnumbers that of pains, the _____ of pains easily eclipse the intensity of pleasures

quantity, intensity

According to Hume, what is the significance of the maximum of pain?

Our pains can reach a maximum intensity. This maximum cannot be by that of even a great pleasure

According to Hume, how do pain and pleasure differ in their rise and fall of intensity?

Pleasure rises quickly, plateaus for a brief period, and then drops off. Whereas pain can be sustained at high intensities for long periods of time

How does Hume think that pain and pleasure connect to the Hobbesian state of nature?

We exist in a perpetual state of war, constantly fighting to survive and stretch resources.

Why does Hume think that even if we are able to escape the suffering (of perpetual war) caused by the state of nature due to our superior intellect, this only opens the door to new kinds of evil?

Our minds create new imaginary evils, such as religious enemies like Gods and demons, that make us feel guilty for everything that we do

What does Hume mean by “disorders of the mind”?

feelings of remorse, shame, guilt, anxiety, fear, rejection, and despair.

What is the objection from continued existence?

Life cannot be all bad since those who do not suffer do not always take their own life

What is Hume’s response to the objection from continued existence?

Our fear of death outweighs the suffering we experience in life. They do not live because they are holding onto the prospect of better things; they are just too scared of death (or the uncertainty of death) to die.