Problem of evil

• What does the problem of evil argue regarding God's existence?

  It argues God does not exist due to evil.
• What are the two forms of the problem of evil?

  The logical and evidential problems of evil.
• What does the logical problem of evil claim?

  God's existence is logically impossible with evil.
• What does the evidential problem of evil suggest?

  Amount of evil suggests God probably doesn't exist.
• How can evil be categorized?

  Into moral evil and natural evil.
• What is moral evil?


  Evil acts committed by people.
• What is natural evil?

  Suffering as a result of natural processes.
• What is a theodicy?

  An explanation for why God permits evil.
• What is the inconsistent triad according to Mackie?

  God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and evil exists.
• What does Mackie argue about the three statements in the inconsistent triad?

  Only two of the three can be true.
• What does Mackie conclude about the existence of God?

  God does not exist because evil exists.
• What is the first reply to the problem of evil?

  Good couldn't exist without evil.
• How does Mackie respond to the first reply?

  Questions the truth of needing evil for good.
• What is the second reply to the problem of evil?

  Some evil is necessary for certain goods.
• What are first and second order goods?

  First order goods are pleasures; second order goods are virtues.
• What does Mackie argue about second order evils?

  They seek to maximize first order evils.
• What is the third reply to the problem of evil?

  Evil is necessary for free will.
• How does Mackie respond to the third reply?

  An omnipotent God can create any world.
• What does Plantinga argue regarding the logical problem of evil?

  Existence of evil is not logically inconsistent with God.
• What is the free will defense?

  God allows evil for the greater good of free will.
• How does Plantinga view second order evil?

  It can exist for the greater good of free will.
• What does Plantinga suggest about natural evil?

  It may result from non-human actors like demons.
• What is soul-making according to Hick?

  We need evils to develop spiritual virtues.
• How does the evidential problem of evil differ from the logical problem?

  It allows for the possibility of God's existence.
• What examples illustrate the evidential problem of evil?

  Innocent babies with diseases and slavery.
• What does the evidential problem of evil argue about God's existence?

  God would allow less evil if He existed.
• What is Hick's view on soul-making?

  Humans develop virtues through overcoming evils.
• How does Hick respond to the question of animal suffering?

  It creates epistemic distance from God.
• What does Hick argue about terrible evils?

  They are only terrible in contrast to ordinary evils.
• What is Hick's view on pointless evils?

  They remain a mystery but aid soul-making.
• How does Hick relate suffering to virtues like sympathy?

  Suffering creates conditions for developing sympathy.
• What does Hick say about the nature of suffering?

  It must appear unmerited to develop compassion.
• What did Hume call the problem of evil

  The rock of atheism
• Evil

  Pain or suffering experienced by sentient beings
• Logical problem of evil

  the issue that mere existence of evil is logically incompatible with the existence of god. It can present a deductive argument that an omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent god can’t co-exist with evil.
• Logical problem of evil - premise form

  P1 - if god is supremely good, then he will eliminate evil as far as he can

  P2 - if god is omnipotent then he is able to eliminate evil

  P3 - if god is omniscient, then he knows that evil exists and knows how to eliminate it

  P4 - therefore, if god exists, and is supremely good, omnipotent and omniscient, then evil doesn’t exist

  C1 - evil exists

  C2 - therefore a supremely good, omnipotent and omniscient god does not exist