Problem of Evil 3.0 / 5HideShow resource informationPhilosophyEvilASOCRCreated by: ChantalCreated on: 24-04-13 21:29 Problem of Evil The Problem (Inconsistent Triad) Augustine’s Theodicy (Soul Deciding) Irenaeus’ Theodicy (Hick) (Soul Making) 1 of 7 The Problem God of classical theism: Omniscience Omnipotent Omnipresent Omni benevolent BUT evil exists Logical contradiction Inconsistent triad Moral evil= evil caused by humans (eg murder) Natural Evil= evil caused by nature (eg earthquake) Solutions include: God is not omni benevolent (Mill) God is not omnipotent God does not exist (atheist) Theodicy (attempts to maintain the classic theistic God and explain evil) 2 of 7 Augustine's Theodicy Soul deciding theodicy (choose to turn- decision) Free will defence God created the world good All creatures ordered in a hierarchy, given their place by God Turning from there place leads to evil The act of turning is evil= Pride (may not have bad motive) Pride= rather lie with oneself than with God Evil is a privation of good (privation boni) Evil is not an entity in itself therefore evil is not God’s fault Evil comes about due to free will Humans choose to misuse free will Satan and his cohorts exercise free will causing natural evil Saw genesis 3 (the fall) as first example of turning and misuse of free will- catastrophe, major event 3 of 7 Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths: Relatable- everyone has experienced some form of evil Biblical basis Other examples of privation (eg dark is a lack of light) Includes classical theistic God Most Christians support Weaknesses: How can we excuse god from evident flaws in the world Human ability to turn away- are we really created good? A hierarchy can foster problems between beings How can hell and Satan exist?- did God know we’d mess up? Logical problems Is free will right? Where does our ability to do evil come from? 4 of 7 Irenaeus Soul making theodicy Man was not made good from the beginning they are made in the image of God but not yet possess the likeness of God Humans are created in an infantile state, state of immaturity Hick’s development… Trials and difficulties= testing grounds for us to develop A world that is only good does not allow growth (God’s relationship with humans more like parent to child than owner to animal) Humans have free will allowing them to develop, mans free choices lead to growth in power, freedom and wealth, so their souls become closer to God God keeps himself hidden (epistemic distance) he does exist but we have to make our own choices and rely on each other Dysteleological suffering= problem (Hick says we cannot here and now understand its purpose) Eschatological: If all souls are to be perfected soul making will continue after death 5 of 7 Stengths and Weaknesses Strengths: Values freewill as means by which man can develop- God not cause for evil Includes classical theistic God Evil is teleological (has a purpose) Relatable- everyone has experienced some form of evil Evolutionary rather than biblical Answers question why God does not intervene Weaknesses Does the end justify the means? Is the answer that there is a reward in the afterlife really satisfactory Suggests God is letting us purposefully suffer- omni benevolent? God’s creation is imperfect- omnipotent? Where is the incentive if everyone is rewarded with heaven? Mans free choices don't always lead to growth in power, freedom and wealth Why suffer in this life if we are to suffer in the afterlife (eschatological) 6 of 7 END END 7 of 7
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