the problem of evil

what’s natural evil?

evil events that cause human suffering but are not manmade (e.g. natural disasters)

what’s moral evil?

evil thats caused by mankind. either through commission (action) or omission (choosing not to act)

what’s are two supporting arguments towards the problem of evil?

• the logical problem of evil

• the evidential problem of evil

who came up with the logical problem of evil?

Epicurus and was then developed by JL Mackie with the inconsistent triad

what is a quote by Epicurus for the logical problem of evil?

what is the quote from?

• The Epicurean paradox

• “Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent…Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

is the logical problem of evil a posteriori or a priori?

a priori as it relies only on logic

what are the three proposals we are asked to accept?

• that god is omnibenevolent

• god is omnipotent

• evil and suffering exists

why is this flawed?

It’s logically inconsistent that these statements can all be true at once as they contradict each other

What is a criticism and counter criticism to the inconsistent triad?

• we may be misunderstanding evil and it may have a purpose

• Hume rejects this and says that the effects of evil are felt too widely and therefore it is not possible for it to be dismissible

Who came up with the Evidential problem of evil?

JS Mill

is it a posteriori or a priori?

a posteriori as it takes evidence from own experiences