The inconsistent triad was created by J.L Mackie. It consists of three propositions, God is omnibenevolent, God is omnipotent and evil exists. Two of these things can be true but not all three which is why it is inconsistent.
What is the logical problem?
The logical problem of evil claims that God's omnipotence, omniscience and supreme goodness would completely rule out the possibility of evil and that the existence of evil would do the same for the existence of a supreme being. it is an a priori statement.
What is the evidential problem?
The evidential problem focuses on evidence of people suffering in the world. When you see extreme suffering of innocent people especially children, then the idea that there is a good loving and powerful God is less convincing.
What was Augustines theodicy
Augustine believed that evil is not from God and his creation was faultless and perfect and that evil came from within the world, not from God when he created the world.
What does Augustine think about natural evil?
natural evil causes an imbalance in nature brought about by the fall.
What does Augustine think about moral evil?
moral evil is caused because the world has become estranged from God and immorality has been able to thrive.
What does Augustine say about evil?
Augustine said that evil is not a real actual quality. He called it 'privatio boni' which is a privation (lack) of good.
What does schleiermacher say against Augustines theodicy?
He argued how can a perfectly created world go so wrong so quickly. An omnipotent God must share some of the blame for evil. Furthermore, Augustine's theodicy relies on the fall which is not an actual event recorded in human history so there are many flaws in his theodicy.
What was Irenaeus' theodicy?
Irenaeus said that God allows evil and suffering to continue, but he justified this with his argument that the world was created with both good and evil so we can develop into human beings that have a mature and free relationship with God. There has to be evil in this world for us to appreciate the good. In order for humans to grow into Gods image we had to be given free will.
Why did Irenaeus think God created evil?
If God intervened every time that someone made a wrong choice and put right the evil that had happened, then this would be the same as removing the freedom of choice and opportunity for people to learn from their mistakes.
What is Hicks theodicy?
Hick wanted to appeal to the 20th century so he argued that God had deliberately created a world where humans would be able to freely choose a relationship with him. This includes struggles, hardships, and epistemic distance. If Gos did not remain hidden then it would not be a free choice to believe in him and therefore the world must have uncertainty about good and evil.
How does Irenaeus and Hick's theodicy defend God in the logical problem of evil?
Irenaeus and Hick claim that evil serves the good purpose of soul making and if this is true then Irenaeus has solved the logical problem of evil.
How does this defend God in the evidential problem of evil?
If evidence shows that God allows evil because it leads to spiritual development then it defends God in the evidential problem of evil. There is a lot of cases where dealing with evil and suffering had developed a person for the better. By experiencing hardship a person will become stronger and morally better.
How does Mackie criticise Irenaeus and Hick's theodicy?
J.L Mackie said that because God decided not to create people that would act freely and do the right things meant that he is inconsistent with his being an omnipotent and wholly good God.
What are some general criticisms of Irenaeus and Hick's theory?
Does the end justify the means? Does all suffering result in moral growth and is suffering the only way to moral development?
What does Polkinghorne say about natural evil?
The earth should be able to act in accordance with its nature, just as we are. Life as we know it would not exist if the earth was formed in any other way.
What does Polkinghorne say about moral evil?
We act in accordance with our nature and that includes the choice of action that we do.
Why does God not intervene with natural disasters in the opinions of theologians and scientists?
If God always intervened, we would have no moral compass. God cannot mess with free will and the law of nature because then the world would not make sense.
What is pointless and necessary evil?
Pointless evil is evil that doesn't need to happen, such as a baby deer dying in a fire. Why could that deer not have just died instantly and why did it have to have prolonged suffering?
Necessary evil is evil that happens to outdo a worse evil. For example, dying of old age is to prevent the person from living an even longer and painful life.
Who talks about pointless and necessary evil?
William Rowe.
What is the good thing about the logical problem of evil being a deductive argument?
If the premises is true than the conclusion must be true also.
What are general weaknesses of the logical problem of evil?
Without evil we wouldnt know what good is and since we have never experienced a good god, how would we know what one is?
Who criticises Rowe's pointless and necessary evil?
Snyder
How does Snyder criticise Rowe?
Snyder says that we don’t and can’t understand Gods perspective for evil
What are examples of natural evil?
cancer, birth defects, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and other phenomena which inflict suffering with apparently no accompanying mitigating good.
What is moral evil?
the acts of humans which are considered to be morally wrong
What are examples of moral evil?
Murder and theft
How does Augustine's theodicy work against the evidential problem of evil?
Dawkins rejects the whole idea of an initial perfect creation.
The Scientific evidence is against the fall – we evolved, Genesis cannot be literally true, genetic diversity shows we couldn’t have all come from two ancestors.
So, the doctrine of original sin doesn’t seem to be true.
This casts doubt on Augustine’s attempt to avoid God’s responsibility for evil by blaming humanity for it.|
How does Augustine's argument work against the logical problem of evil?
Pelagius argued that if we have original sin and are thus completely unable to avoid doing evil, it would surely be unjust for God to punish us for our sinful behaviour.
It’s not ethical for all humanity to be blamed for the actions of Adam and Eve.
This suggests an indefensible view of moral responsibility – how can people be responsible for actions committed by others before they were even born.|
How does Iranaeus' and Hick's theodicy work against the evidential problem of evil?
Strength: There is evidence that encountering and overcoming evil develops a person’s character and virtue.
It is also behind the idea that people become spoiled if they have too much luxury and not enough responsibility or difficulty to overcome.
By going through harsh struggles, a person becomes stronger and gains compassion for others. This does seem to be a factual occurrence in life.
How does Iraneaus' and Hick's theodicy work against the logical problem of evil?
A fully developed soul is one which has chosen good over evil. This requires having made a choice. Therefore, it’s logically impossible for God to create us fully developed.
Most theologians agree omnipotence does not include the power to do the logically impossible.
So, a perfect God would create us undeveloped and allow us the freedom to choose good over evil. Evil is needed because it serves this good purpose of soul-making. So, evil isn’t incompatible with God’s existence. Mackie’s logical problem seems defeated.