The problem of evil is inadequate to disprove the existence of god. The problem of evil stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The problem of evil the philosophical problem of evil is the challenge of reconciling belief in god with evil in the world. The video above beautifully and simply addresses the problems that arise when atheism attempts to answer the intellectual problem of evil. One argument, known as the free will defense, claims that evil is caused not by god but by human beings, who must be allowed to choose evil if they are to have free will. The problem, in short, is that any axiological formulation of the argument from evil, as it stands, is incomplete in a crucial respect, since it fails to make explicit how a failure to bring about good states of affairs, or a failure to prevent bad states of affairs, entails that one is acting in a morally wrong way. A variety of arguments have been offered in response to the problem of evil, and some of them have been used in both theodicies and defenses. In order to analyze the skeptical theistic response to the problem of evil, we must first know what the problem of evil claims. He believes the occurrence of nonmoral evil in the world is a necessary condition for the ethics of choice and the process of soulmaking.
Thus a rape or a murder of an innocent child is defended as having a gods purpose that a human being may not comprehend, but which may lead to lesser evil or. Responses to various versions of the problem of evil, meanwhile, come in three forms. A theistic response to the evidential problem of evil is usually classified as either a theodicy or a defense. The same suffering, grief, terror, anger, envy, and other mental states that we associate with evil still occur.
The most recent of these books, from the spectrum multiview books series, seeks to address an ageold problem with a bit of modern flaregod and the problem of evil. Hick argues that moral evil is a result of the mystery of free will. A hypothesis is intended to explain the evidence in the best possible way. Mccloskey, god and evil,philosophical quarterly 10 1960, pp. The problem of evil offers a comprehensive examination of the problem of evil from both technical and ministerial perspectives. May 14, 2012 in order to analyze the skeptical theistic response to the problem of evil, we must first know what the problem of evil claims. Problem of evil responses introduction to philosophy.
The god that rowe is referring to is the traditional god of christian theism. Evolution and the problem of evil, 1 an excellently researched book which reexamines darwins motives for developing the theory of evolution. It is to answer the question of why a good god permits the manifestation of evil, thus resolving the issue of the problem of evil. Compassion, for instance, is of great value, but can only exist if there is suffering. Kreefy stresses the extent that this problem of evil challenges theism, going so far as to claim that more people have abandoned their faith because of this problem than for any other reason. If we know that god exists and is good, then the problem of evil simply cannot be coherent. Lane craig claims open theists, roman catholics, and eastern orthodox. Responses to various versions of the problem of evil, meanwhile, come in three. Other solutions to the problem include john hicks 1977 soulmaking theodicy. For some time, however, there has been a need for a collection of readings that adequately represents recent and ongoing writing on the topic. Even the book of proverbs, despite its occasional flashes of cynicism, essentially reflects this view. The blackwell companion to the problem of evil presents a collection of original essays providing both overview and insight, clarifying and evaluating the philosophical and theological problem of evil in its various contexts and manifestations. Even the book of proverbs, despite its occasional flashes of cynicism, essentially.
Apr 20, 2020 a theistic response to the evidential problem of evil is usually classified as either a theodicy or a defense. Problem of evil, the problem of reconciling the existence of evil with the. Some theodicies also address the evidential problem of evil by attempting to make the existence of an allknowing, allpowerful and allgood or omnibenevolent god consistent with the existence of evil or. Jan 14, 2014 the blackwell companion to the problem of evil presents a collection of original essays providing both overview and insight, clarifying and evaluating the philosophical and theological problem of evil in its various contexts and manifestations. Generally, a defense against the problem of evil may refer to attempts to defuse the logical problem of evil by showing that there is no logical incompatibility between the existence of evil and the existence of god. We shall see, however, that a number of philosophical theists have. The rest of this essay, then, will be an attempt to offer what i take to be the most persuasive rational response to the problem of evil. I do not think that the theistic hypothesis is the best response to the problem of evil in the world. Theistic evolution and the problem of natural evil garrett j. A response to wykstra, international journal for philosophy of religion, 16. A note that hick, as with responses 1 and 3, is committed to saying things like hiv is really a good. He argues that in our secular age we have given reason such a dominant place in our u.
Dec 28, 2012 therefore, advocating some form of theistic evolution poses problems for standard explanations of the problem of evil. The problem with answering the problem of evil cold case. As a response to the problem of evil, a theodicy is distinct from a defence. Chapter 10 christian theism and the evidential argument from evil. Theism and the meaning of life abstract theists are inclined to assert that human life would be meaningless if there was no personal immortality and god did not exist. After weeks of exploring the existence of nature of god, today hank explores one of the biggest problems in theism, and possibly the biggest philosophical question. For what is still a good overview of the problem of evil and proposed solutions see h.
Pantheism, theism and the problem of evil springerlink. The problem of evil poses a philosophical threat to the design argument because. Chapter 12 redemptive suffering as a christian solution to the problem of evil. What are the most famous responses to the problem of evil.
The theistic component is just theism, the view that there exists an omnipotent, omniscient, wholly good. Hence god is logically possible, despite the problem of evil. Mar 01, 20 the problem of evil offers a comprehensive examination of the problem of evil from both technical and ministerial perspectives. The problem of evil is one of the most discussed topics in the philosophy of religion. This volume fills that need, offering the most uptodate collection of recent scholarship on the problem of evil. Atheism, theism, and the problem of evil the responses followers of theism observe and acknowledge evil, pain, and suffering in this broken world. Evans treats the history of the problem with fairness, looking at it through contemporary philosophical literature and offering responses to the most substantive arguments from evil. Theistic responses to the problem of evil flashcards quizlet. Our suffering, as well as the suffering of others, vividly marks the presence of evil in our world. In chapter 4, paul draper makes a strong case against classical theism by resorting to a novel version of the evidential argument from evil. Author and acclaimed philosophy professor jeremy a. Mccloskey composed a strong argument on how being an atheist was far superior to the theistic lifestyle. More often than not, the first response to the problem of evil is what i call the free will excuse. Adam and eve and the problem of evil by paul w kahn.
But then the illusion of evil certainly seems to be as evil as evil itself would have been if real. Five views edited by chad meister and james some of the most helpful books in the field of biblical and theological studies have come in the form of. The theistic god is deada casualty of terrorism 2001 off site by bishop john shelby spong. The cambridge companion to the problem of evil reading.
In his bestselling book when bad things happen to good people, rabbi. The author explains one of the most wellknown response to mackies version of the logical problem of evil, the freewill defense by alvin plantinga. Chapter 1 jobs complaint and the whirlwinds answer. The theist understands that evil, pain, and suffering are contrary to the opposite good states the way it should be. The problem of evil coined by epicurus states that. The present paper aims to evaluate the truth of this claim. In either case, the job answer provides a powerful, biblical, answer to the problem of evil. Little is needed if the majority of group members are operating with the beliefs. I have been reading many of the theistic arguments and i am finding many of them interesting and convincing. How should christians approach the problem of evil. May 09, 2016 after weeks of exploring the existence of nature of god, today hank explores one of the biggest problems in theism, and possibly the biggest philosophical question humanity faces. Socalled evil in the world is simply the result of natural laws, and the obstacles and challenges these create allow us the opportunity to develop and improve our souls, by finding ways to cope with and overcome such obstacles. While the objection can be stated in a sentence of two, the response cannot.
An account of the resurgence of philosophical theism in our time, including a brief survey of prominent antitheistic arguments such as the presumption of atheism, the incoherence of theism, and the problem of evil, along with a defense of theistic arguments like the contingency argument, the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, and the moral argument. Responses to the problem of evil have occasionally been classified as. Plantingas free will defense has been the most famous theistic response to the logical problem of evil because he did more to clarify the issues surrounding the logical problem than anyone else. I would like to lead a religious life, but i am constantly depressed when i see or read about the many instances of violence and injustice taking place around the world.
How theistic evolution kicks christianity out of the plausibility structure and robs christians of confidence that the bible is a source of knowledge j. It is laid out in two premises and a conclusion, as follows. In a nutshell, the free will excuse basically has two facets. Response to the problem theists have articulated defenses, but generally cant advance theodicies complete explanations for evil. An account of the resurgence of philosophical theism in our time, including a brief survey of prominent anti theistic arguments such as the presumption of atheism, the incoherence of theism, and the problem of evil, along with a defense of theistic arguments like the contingency argument, the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, and the moral argument. If god is great and god is good, then why would he allow evil to exist. Skeptical theism defends the problem of evil by asserting that god allows an evil to.
The problem of evil is deadly, and if your book consists of this kind of idiocy. Thus peter van inwagen, throughout his book the problem of evil. Therefore, advocating some form of theistic evolution poses problems for standard explanations of the problem of evil. The problem of evil is the question of how to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with. This is the problem with answering the problem of evil. Thomas flint and michael rea oxford university press, 2009, pp. The theistic concept of god as supremely powerful, intelligent, and good makes the problem very difficult because such a being, it would seem, would make a much better world than this one. Responses to the problem of evil have occasionally been classified as defences or theodicies. The best books on evil five books expert recommendations.
Many atheists would point out that the hopelessness of our universe does not mean that their atheistic answer to suffering and evil is incorrect. The author interacts primarily with the logical problem of evil as expounded by j. God is almighty, god is perfectly good, and evil exists. Charles hartshorne is well known in philosophical circles for his rehabilitation of anselms ontological argument. In his book on the free choice of the will,4 he provided in seminal form what.
Any adequate response to the problem of evil must robustly address the collective, cumulative case. Perhaps my response to the problem of evil would look a little thinner if free will falls by the wayside, but it would not be overwhelmed. I do not think that it shows that at all, but in a short paper i can only refer to my arguments on this point elsewhere,4 and to the arguments of others. Indeed, he may have written more on that subject than any other philosopher. It cannot explain the evidence from our point of view. Problem of evil, problem in theology and the philosophy of religion that arises for any view that affirms the following three propositions. In responding to the argument from evil, then, one.
Even in trying to briefly reconstruct the case, ive exceeded the word count i typically use for my daily blog. The problem of evil a biblical theodicy gci archive. Skeptical theism and the problem of evil michael bergmann. The most famous argument against theism is the argument from evildoes not the occurrence of pain and wickedness show that there is not a good god in control of the universe. Perhaps the most difficult issue concerning the relation between morality and. Mackie in his famous article, evil and omnipotence. Such an approach is, in my view, by far the most reasonable theistic response to the problem of evil basically to say that apparently pointless evil and suffering constitute some evidence against the existence of an allgood, allpowerful god, but not. There are a number of character traits that are valuable only if evil exists.
The second response to the problem of evil is that the existence of evil is a necessary condition for the existence of certain kinds of good. Logical problem of evil internet encyclopedia of philosophy. He considered it to be the argument that, more than any other, reveals the logical status of. An excellent, fictional introduction to the problem of evil and twelve theistic responses to the problem. The problem of evil oxford readings in philosophy 1st. Readings on the theological problem of evil new jersey. Every newspaper contains many examples of evil and its painful consequences. Gratuitous suffering and the problem of evil 9780415662963. Evil is a problem, for the theist, in that a contradiction is involved in the fact of evil on. Skeptical theism has both a skeptical component and a theistic component. If god was all good, all powerful and all knowing, he would not allow the existence of evil. Skeptical theism defends the problem of evil by asserting that god allows an evil to happen in order to prevent a greater evil or to encourage a response that will lead to a greater good. A defence attempts to demonstrate that the occurrence of evil does not contradict gods existence, but it does not propose that rational beings are able to understand why god permits evil. A critical analysis on the problem of evil theistic approach thesis statement.
The problem of evil features an argument questioning the existence of god in relation to evil, attributing both atheistic and theistic replies. Process theology and open theism are other positions that limit gods. In philosophy of religion, some moveslike appealing to evil to support atheism or appealing to. Namely, that the evidence for the existence of god provides a rebutting defeater for the problem of evil.
This volume fills that need, offering the most up to date collection of recent scholarship on the problem of evil. One of the most important theologians in the history of the christian church was st. Cornelius hunter has recently published darwins god. Evaluating the skeptical theistic response to the problem of.
The problem of evil and some varieties of atheism, american philosophical quarterly, 16. Features all original essays that explore the various forms of the problems of evil, offering theistic responses that attempt to explain evil as. The question concerning the nature of evil is a longstanding one but i would go so far as to say that in this profound book, the philosopher paul kahn has gone a very long way in answering it. In philosophy and theology, a theodicy is an argument that provides a highly plausible and perhaps even likelytobetrue explanation for evils existence with the permission of god. Oct, 2015 such an approach is, in my view, by far the most reasonable theistic response to the problem of evil basically to say that apparently pointless evil and suffering constitute some evidence against the existence of an allgood, allpowerful god, but not sufficient evidence against to make belief unwarranted. The theist must show the point of each instance of evil, including the fawns suffering and death. If theres a possible reason for god to allow evil, then the problem of evil doesnt make god logically impossible. Evaluating the skeptical theistic response to the problem. Edward martin by ivan derrick cooke cooke 2 introduction in 1968, atheist philosopher h. This response presupposes that humans are indeed free, and it fails to reckon with. Jun 10, 2009 the rest of this essay, then, will be an attempt to offer what i take to be the most persuasive rational response to the problem of evil. The five responses to the problem of evil credo house. In his book on the free choice of the will, 4 he provided in seminal form what. God is love incarnate 1, and despite the high amount of choice that he allows, he also is bursting to lavish his love not merely on the perfect, which existed solely in christ, but on the imperfect who could never deserve it by virtue of their imperfection 2.