PHIL 101 - The Problem of Evil L5

Evil

Actions, states, or conditions that produce significant wrongdoing, injustice, pain, or suffering.

Natural Evil

Suffering caused by non-agent actions, like natural disasters or pandemics, challenging the belief in a benevolent deity.

Moral Evil

Wrongful acts committed by agents leading to suffering, such as child abuse and mass killings.

Argument from Evil

A philosophical argument asserting that the existence of evil contradicts the attributes of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God.

Inconsistency

A situation where a set of propositions cannot be collectively true due to contradictory conclusions.

Reductio ad Absurdum

A logical technique that shows the inconsistency of a proposition by demonstrating that it leads to a logically impossible conclusion.

Theodicy

A framework developed to reconcile the existence of evil with God's benevolence.

Free Will Theodicy

The argument that evil arises from the actions of free agents and that God values human free will.

Higher Goods

Virtues like heroism and compassion that are argued to necessitate the existence of suffering.

Best Possible World Defense

The idea that God created the optimal balance of good and evil for the emergence of higher goods.

Epicurus

A philosopher who posed the dilemma regarding God's willingness and ability to prevent evil.

Puzzling Nature of Evil

The philosophical tension that arises from observing evil in the world, questioning the existence of a morally perfect God.

Means-End Justification

The argument positing that certain evils may lead to a greater good and can be justified therefore.

Inconsistent Tetrad

A set of propositions including the existence of God and evil that leads to philosophical contradictions.

God's Attributes

The characteristics of God as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, which are challenged by the existence of evil.

Omnipotence

The attribute of God that denotes unlimited power and the ability to accomplish anything.

Omniscience

The attribute of God that indicates all-knowingness or knowledge of all things.

Omnibenevolence

The attribute of God that signifies perfect goodness and total benevolence.

Philosophy of Religion

A branch of philosophy that explores questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God.

Theological Implications

The impact of philosophical arguments and discussions on the understanding of God and religious beliefs.