Problem of evil
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- Created by: millyrobinson
- Created on: 18-05-16 09:15
What is the metaphysical problem of evil?
God is the cause of everything that exists and since evil exists, God must be the cause of it
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What is the moral problem of evil?
an omnipotent God could destroy evil and an omnibenevolent God would destroy it so God is either/none of these things or does not exist
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What is the problem of natural evil?
natural evil such as natural disasters are out of control of humans and free will therefore they must God's fault.
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What does theodicy mean?
"theo" = God "dike" = righteousness.
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What is the aim of the Augustinian approach?
aims to remove the blame from God and place on humans (focuses on abuse of free will).
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How does Augustine describe God's substances?
every substance is created by God and is good. when evil is removed from a substance it becomes purer. God is not corruptible but the substances he has created are.
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What is evil according to Augustine?
evil is a corruption of a substance (process) or ontological parasite and therefore it deprives a substance of it's true good nature.
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Where does evil come from according to Augustine?
evil is caused by human free will and pride which started from the Fall of the Garden of Eden. a tendency towards evil has been transmitted through generations.
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Why can God not intervene?
God cannot intervene without taking away any free will.
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What additions did Aquinas make to Augustine's theodicy?
the material cause of evil (substance) is good. evil has no formal cause or a final cause. efficient cause of evil is the interaction of substances.
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What was the aim of the Irenaean approach?
to show that God permits evil for a good reason.
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What is the process of 'soul making'?
as human beings live in obedience to God they generate a likeness to God. humans start life immature and progress down a path of perfection (cannot be born perfect).
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Why are evil choices available to all?
human goodness developed from free moral choices is better than human goodness that has been programmed.
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What has God done to ensure we follow this process of soul making?
God has kept an EPISTEMIC DISTANCE so we know little of him so we can make free choices. this work is called the 'Vale of Soul Making' since it contains potential for real evil to allow us to learn.
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What is an unreconstructed approach?
comes from theistic tradition and not from the Bible. do not believe that God interferes with creation.
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What is a reconstructed approach?
use the Bible and focuses on the work and person of Jesus as part of maturing process.
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What are the weaknesses of the Augustinian theodicy?
1. a perfect creation cannot go wrong suddenly. 2. if it does then responsibility goes to creator. 3. God could have done better (created beings who do not choose evil). 4. evolution = human beings were never perfect. 5. natural evil = not solved.
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What are the strengths of the Augustinian theodicy?
1. to classify evil as non-substance is philosophically clever and does not contradict Bible. 2. remains faithful to Christian roots.
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What are the weaknesses of the Irenaean theodicy?
1. little attention paid to Genesis. 2. some suffering is dysteleological, does not take into account intensity of suffering. 3. world wars and holocaust suggest we are not developing. 4. why can't perfection be programmed?
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What are the weaknesses of the Irenaean theodicy? (continued)
5. is free will worth it?6. is it morally justifiable for all humans to go to heaven?
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What are the strengths of the Irenaean theodicy?
1. made sense of later theory (evolution) instead of holding to the Fall. 2. we are aware of moral maturity. 3. there is no 'sleight of hand' getting God 'of the hook'.
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What are the differences between the theodicies?
1. difference in aims. 2. A= Neo-Platonic idea of evil as non-being I= rejects this. 3. A= universe as non-personal I= personal. 4. A= focuses on past I= future. 5. A= based on the Fall I=does not. 6. A= division of heaven and hell I= all saved.
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What are the similarities between the theodicies?
1. end of time = evil will be solved. 2. both acknowledge either explicitly (I) or implicitly (A) that God is responsible. 3. both state God allowed evil to allow good. 4. God's power is limited but due to moral/logical possibility not finite.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What is the moral problem of evil?
Back
an omnipotent God could destroy evil and an omnibenevolent God would destroy it so God is either/none of these things or does not exist
Card 3
Front
What is the problem of natural evil?
Back
Card 4
Front
What does theodicy mean?
Back
Card 5
Front
What is the aim of the Augustinian approach?
Back
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