THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

• What is the logical problem of evil?

  A deductive argument against God's existence
• What does the logical problem of evil aim to show?

  Evil is inconsistent with classical theism
• How is God defined in classical theism?

  Omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient
• Who was Epicurus?

  An ancient Greek philosopher
• What question does Epicurus raise about God's ability to prevent evil?

  Is God willing but not able to prevent evil?
• What does Epicurus suggest if God is able but not willing to prevent evil?

  Then God isn’t omnibenevolent
• What is the conclusion if God is both able and willing?

  Then why is there evil?
• What does Epicurus imply if God is neither able nor willing?

  Then why call him God?
• What is Mackie’s inconsistent triad?

  Evil, omnipotence, and omnibenevolence
• What does P1 of Mackie’s argument state?

  An omnipotent God can eliminate evil
• What does P2 of Mackie’s argument state?

  An omnibenevolent God wants to eliminate evil
• What does P3 of Mackie’s argument state?

  Nothing can exist if it can be eliminated
• What conclusion does Mackie draw from his premises?

  Evil and God cannot co-exist
• Why is Mackie’s argument considered deductive?

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

  It doesn’t reference experience
• What large claim does the logical problem of evil make?

  If evil exists, God cannot exist
• Who first put forward the evidential problem of evil?

  David Hume
• What does Hume think about the co-existence of God and evil?

  It’s technically possible but not justified
• What type of evidence does Hume point out regarding evil?

  A posteriori evidence of evil in the world
• What is Hume's first point about animal suffering?

  Nature could create less suffering for animals
• What is Hume's second point regarding creatures' abilities?

  Creatures have limited abilities for survival
• What is Hume's third point about nature's extremes?

  They make survival and happiness difficult
• What is Hume's fourth point about God's intervention?

  God doesn’t intervene to prevent disasters
• What does Hume conclude about evidence and belief in God?

  We cannot infer perfection from imperfection
• What is the first premise of Hume's evidential problem?

  We are justified in believing what evidence suggests
• What is the second premise of Hume's evidential problem?

  We only have evidence of imperfection
• What conclusion does Hume draw from his premises?

  We are justified in believing imperfection exists
• What is the conclusion of the evidential problem?

  Belief in God is not justified
• What does Augustine claim about the existence of evil?

  We created it and deserve it
• How does Augustine define evil?

  Evil is either sin or punishment for sin
• What is original sin according to Augustine?

  A corruption in human nature from Adam and Eve
• What punishment do Adam and Eve face according to Augustine?

  Living in a fallen world full of evil
• How does Augustine explain the existence of evil?

  It exists as punishment for our sinful ways
• What does Augustine mean by 'privatio boni'?

  Evil is an absence of good
• How does Augustine view the existence of evil?

  Evil has no positive existence
• What does Augustine compare evil to?

  Blindness, as an absence of sight
• What does Augustine claim about humanity's fall from God?

  Evil results from falling away from goodness
• What does Dawkins argue against Augustine's creation idea?

  Scientific evidence contradicts the fall
• What does Dawkins say about genetic diversity?

  It shows we couldn't come from two ancestors
• What does Dawkins argue about Augustine's understanding of reproduction?

  It is unscientific nonsense