the problem of evil

• Who formulated the problem of evil?

  Epicurus
• What is natural evil?

  Evil resulting from natural world events
• What is moral evil?

  Evil caused by human actions
• Why is natural evil a problem for God's existence?

  God could have created a world without it
• Why is moral evil a problem for God's existence?

  God does not intervene to prevent it
• What does the logical problem of evil argue?

  Evil and God cannot coexist
• What is the inconsistent triad according to Mackie?

  Omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and evil cannot coexist
• What does omnipotence entail in the context of evil?

  The power to eliminate evil
• What does omnibenevolence entail in the context of evil?

  The motivation to prevent evil
• What is the conclusion of the logical problem of evil?

  God cannot exist if evil exists
• What is an a priori argument?

  Conclusion based on logical analysis
• What is an a posteriori argument?

  Conclusion based on experience and evidence
• What does the evidential problem of evil argue?

  Evil makes belief in God unjustified
• Who is associated with the evidential problem of evil?

  Hume
• What is one example of animal suffering in Hume's argument?

  Animals feeling pain in nature
• What does Hume argue about God's reasons for allowing evil?

  We have no evidence of such reasons
• What is original sin according to Augustine?

  The first sin corrupting all humanity
• How does Augustine explain the origin of sin?

  Humans have a natural predisposition to sin
• What does Augustine claim about evil?

  Evil is a privation of good
• What is Plantinga's free will defense?

  Evil results from the misuse of free will
• Why does Plantinga argue free will is necessary?

  It gives value to our existence
• What is a strength of Augustine's theodicy?

  It logically allows for the existence of evil
• What is a weakness of Augustine's theodicy?

  It seems unfair to punish descendants
• What does the logical problem of evil claim about God's attributes?

  God cannot be both omnibenevolent and omnipotent
• What is the conclusion of Plantinga's argument?

  It is better for evil to exist than not
• How does Plantinga respond to the logical problem of evil?

  By arguing evil results from free will
• What does Augustine say about the nature of evil?

  Evil has no positive existence
• What does the term 'the Fall' refer to?

  Adam and Eve's disobedience and banishment
• What does Augustine mean by "we were all in Adam"?

  All humanity is affected by original sin
• What does Augustine argue about the punishment for sin?

  We deserve punishment for original sin
• How does Augustine view the relationship between free will and evil?

  Evil results from the free will of humans
• What does Plantinga argue about the value of free will?

  It is essential for a meaningful existence
• What is the significance of the phrase "all evil is either sin or a punishment for sin"?

  It emphasizes the moral responsibility for evil
• What does Augustine's view imply about God's responsibility for evil?

  God is not responsible for evil
• How does Augustine's theodicy address the existence of evil?

  Evil is a result of human free will
• What does Plantinga's free will defense suggest about God's nature?

  God values free will over eliminating evil
• What is the relationship between original sin and human nature according to Augustine?

  Original sin corrupts human nature
• How does Augustine explain the consequences of the Fall?

  Humans are punished with a fallen nature
• What does Augustine mean by "evil is a privation of good"?

  Evil is the absence of goodness
• What does the term 'theodicy' refer to?

  An explanation for the existence of evil