The problem of evil.

AO1 Blurting Prompts (Knowledge)

1. What are the two main types of evil?

2. How can an event combine moral and natural evil?

3. What is moral evil?

4. What are historical examples of moral evil?

5. What are modern examples of moral evil?

6. What is natural evil?

7. What are historical examples of natural evil?

8. What are modern examples of natural evil?

9. How does the problem of evil challenge belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing and wholly good God?

10. What is the logical problem of evil?

11. Which philosophers are linked to the logical problem of evil?

12. What does J.L. Mackie argue about God's attributes and evil?

13. What is the inconsistent triad?

14. How does the inconsistent triad show a contradiction?

15. How did Aquinas respond to the logical problem of evil?

16. How did Hume interpret Aquinas’ claim about God and evil?

17. What is the evidential problem of evil?

18. How does William Rowe illustrate the evidential problem of evil?

19. What does Rowe mean by “pointless” suffering?

20. How does Rowe’s argument differ from the logical problem of evil?

AO2 Blurting Prompts (Evaluation)

21. Why does the existence of moral and natural evil create tension for classical theism?

22. How might building on a fault line challenge the simple distinction between moral and natural evil?

23. Why does Mackie think a good God would remove evil “as far as it can”?

24. Why might the inconsistent triad make God's existence appear logically impossible?

25. How could arguing that God’s goodness differs from human goodness defend God against the problem of evil?

26. How does the idea of “pointless” suffering weaken belief in an all-loving God?

27. Why does Rowe think some suffering serves no greater purpose?

28. How does Rowe’s fawn example challenge the belief that all suffering has a divine reason?

29. How does the existence of extreme suffering make the existence of God improbable rather than impossible?

30. How does the debate between Aquinas, Hume and Mackie show different ways the problem of evil challenges classical theism?

AO1 ANSWERS (1–20)

1. Evil is divided into moral evil caused by humans and natural evil caused by nature, and some events combine both, such as knowingly building on a fault line and worsening earthquake damage.

2. An event can combine both types of evil when human choices intensify natural disasters, like building on a fault line.

3. Moral evil arises from deliberate human actions that cause suffering such as murder, rape or theft.

4. Historical examples of moral evil include the Holocaust.

5. Modern examples of moral evil include the September 11th attacks.

6. Natural evil refers to suffering caused by nature such as illnesses, birth defects and natural disasters.

7. Historical examples of natural evil include illnesses and natural disasters like earthquakes, floods and tsunamis.

8. A modern example of natural evil is the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

9. The problem of evil challenges belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing and wholly good God because this God should prevent evil.

10. The logical problem of evil argues evil is logically inconsistent with a God who is omnipotent, omniscient and wholly good.

11. Epicurus first formulated the logical problem of evil, and it was later discussed by Hume and J.L. Mackie.

12. J.L. Mackie argues that since evil exists, it contradicts the idea that “a wholly good being eliminates evil as far as it can.”

13. The inconsistent triad is the combination of God’s omnipotence, God’s all-loving nature and the existence of evil.

14. The inconsistent triad shows a contradiction because all three claims cannot be true at the same time if evil exists.

15. Aquinas responded by suggesting God’s goodness may differ from human goodness and that God could have morally sufficient reasons for permitting evil.

16. Hume interpreted Aquinas’ claim as evidence against God because defining God as infinite goodness makes evil incompatible with such a being.

17. The evidential problem of evil suggests the amount and intensity of suffering makes God’s existence improbable, though not impossible.

18. Rowe illustrates the evidential problem through cases like a fawn dying slowly in a forest fire or a young girl being brutally abused.

19. Rowe describes “pointless” suffering as unnecessary suffering that serves no greater purpose.

20. Rowe’s argument differs from the logical problem of evil because it argues God is improbable, not impossible.

AO2 ANSWERS (21–30)

21. Moral and natural evil create tension for classical theism because an all-powerful, all-loving God seems incompatible with such suffering.

22. Building on a fault line blurs the distinction because human choices can worsen natural disasters, making them partly moral.

23. Mackie thinks a good God would remove evil “as far as it can,” so the existence of evil challenges belief in such a God.

24. The inconsistent triad makes God’s existence appear logically impossible because the three claims cannot be true together if evil exists.

25. Arguing God’s goodness differs from human goodness can defend God because it allows for morally sufficient reasons humans cannot understand.

26. “Pointless” suffering weakens belief in an all-loving God because such a God would not allow suffering that achieves no greater good.

27. Rowe thinks some suffering serves no greater purpose because examples like the fawn or the abused girl appear unnecessary.

28. The fawn example challenges the idea that all suffering has a divine reason because the suffering seems entirely without purpose.

29. Extreme suffering makes God’s existence improbable rather than impossible because the evidential problem concerns likelihood, not logical contradiction.

30. The debate between Aquinas, Hume and Mackie shows different ways evil challenges classical theism, from logical contradictions to evidence of unnecessary suffering.