What did Mackie write about?
Evil and omnipotence
Outline Mackie’s argument
God is omnipotent and wholly good yet evil exists, which classical theology fails to adequately explain. Also discusses paradox of omnipotence.
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What did Mackie write about?
Evil and omnipotence
Outline Mackie’s argument
God is omnipotent and wholly good yet evil exists, which classical theology fails to adequately explain. Also discusses paradox of omnipotence.
What is the paradox of omnipotence?
That God can limit his powers.
What do Russell and Copleston discuss?
Debate over God’s existence between Copleston (Christian) and Russel.
What does Copleston argue initially?
Argument from contingency.
Outline Russell’s counterarguments
Rejects necessity and the universe having a necessary cause. Compares Copleston’s assumptions to illogical conclusions making inductive leaps.
How does Copleston and Russel’s debate end?
COPLESTON: The universe needs an external explanation
RUSSEL: That is unnecessary
No conclusion drawn, highlights difficulty of religion due to language divides.
What solutions does Mackie critique as ‘fallacious’?
That evil is necessary for good
Free will
Evil contributes to greater good
Paradox of omnipotence
How does Mackie critique evil as necessary for good?
Limits God’s omnipotence.
How does Mackie critique Free Will defence?
God could have created moral humans to eradicate moral evil.
How does Mackie critique evil contributing to a greater good?
Illogical as there must then be ‘levels’ of good and evil, and how would these be categorised etc etc…