Evil

• What kind of argument is the logical problem of evil?

  A deductive argument
• What does the logical problem of evil aim to show?

  Evil's existence is logically inconsistent with the God of classical theism
• How is the God of classical theism defined?

  Omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient
• Which ancient Greek philosopher first formulated the problem of evil?

  Epicurus
• According to Epicurus, what does God's willingness but inability to prevent evil imply?

  God is not omnipotent
• According to Epicurus, what does God's ability but unwillingness to prevent evil imply?

  God is not omnibenevolent
• According to Epicurus, if God is both able and willing to prevent evil, why does it exist?

  The problem of evil is unanswered
• According to Epicurus, if God is neither able nor willing to prevent evil, what does that imply?

  Why call him God?
• What does Mackie call the set of propositions about evil, omnipotence, and omnibenevolence?

  An inconsistent triad
• According to Mackie, what power does an omnipotent God possess?

  The power to eliminate evil
• According to Mackie, what motivation does an omnibenevolent God possess?

  The motivation to eliminate evil
• According to Mackie, what cannot exist if there is a being with the power and motivation to eliminate it?

  Evil
• What is the conclusion of Mackie's inconsistent triad?

  God and evil cannot possibly co-exist
• Why is Mackie's argument considered deductive?

  There is no logical way for premises to be true, conclusion false
• Why is Mackie's argument considered a priori?

  It doesn’t reference experience
• What is Mackie's argument based on?

  Logical analysis of 'omnipotent', 'omnibenevolent' and 'evil'
• What claim does the conclusion of the logical problem of evil make?

  If evil exists, it's impossible God exists
• Who first put forward the evidential problem of evil?

  Hume
• Does Hume think the co-existence of God and evil is impossible?

  No
• What does Hume accept as technically possible?

  A perfect God created an imperfect world
• What type of evidence of evil does Hume point out in the world?

  A posteriori
• According to Hume, what is the problem with the limited abilities of creatures?

  Limits ensure survival and happiness
• According to Hume, what is the problem with natural disasters?

  Why doesn’t God intervene?
• According to Hume, what kind of evidence do we have?

  Only evidence of an imperfect world
• According to Hume, what can't be justifiably inferred from imperfection?

  Perfection
• According to Hume, what are we only justified in believing?

  What the evidence suggests
• According to Hume, what kind of world do we have evidence of?

  A world with both good and evil
• According to Hume, what belief is not justified?

  Belief in a perfectly powerful and good being
• What kind of argument is the evidential problem?

  Inductive
• What is the evidential problem based on?

  Our experience of the world
• What does the evidential problem claim is unjustified?

  Belief in God
• What is Hume not claiming to deductively prove?

  God either doesn’t or cannot exist
• What claim does the conclusion of the evidential problem make?

  Evil's existence is sufficient evidence against God's existence
• According to Augustine, why does evil exist?

  We created it and deserve it
• According to Augustine, what are the two forms of evil?

  Sin or punishment for sin
• According to Augustine, who created original sin?

  Adam and Eve
• What does Augustine describe as a corruption in human nature?

  Original sin
• According to Augustine, why are we born with original sin?

  Adam and Eve chose to create us
• According to Augustine, how is it not God's fault that evil exists?

  We created it and deserve it
• According to Augustine, what is consistent with God's divine justice?

  To allow evil as punishment