Philosophy: Problem of Evil Part 1

TL;DR

Discussion on the logical problem of evil and God's existence.

Transcript

(intro music) Hi, my name is Greg Ganssle, and I'm a part-time lecturer[br]in the Department of Philosophy at Yale University, and a senior fellow at the Rivendell Institute. Today we're going to talk about part of the philosophical problem of evil. The philosophical problem[br]of evil is an argument beginning with facts about evil, leading to the ... Read More

Key Insights

• The philosophical problem of evil questions the coexistence of God and evil, suggesting a contradiction in belief.
• Two main versions of the problem are discussed: the deductive (logical) and the evidential problem of evil.
• The deductive problem of evil is likened to a 'square circle objection,' indicating a contradiction in terms.
• The evidential problem is termed 'the unicorn objection,' suggesting difficulty in believing in God due to evil's presence.
• John Mackie's argument proposes four premises to highlight a contradiction between God's attributes and the existence of evil.
• Mackie's premises suggest that if God is omnipotent and wholly good, He would eliminate all evil, leading to a contradiction.
• Theists challenge Mackie's additional premises, rather than the initial premise of God's existence and attributes.
• The contradiction arises as Mackie's argument concludes both the presence and absence of evil, challenging the validity of the premises.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the philosophical problem of evil?

The philosophical problem of evil is an argument questioning the coexistence of an omnipotent, wholly good God and the presence of evil in the world. It suggests a contradiction in believing both God and evil exist simultaneously, challenging the validity of God's existence or attributes.

Q: What are the two versions of the problem of evil?

The two versions are the deductive (logical) problem of evil and the evidential problem of evil. The deductive version suggests a contradiction in believing in both God and evil, while the evidential version questions the likelihood of God's existence given the presence of evil.

Q: How does John Mackie approach the problem of evil?

John Mackie approaches the problem of evil by proposing four premises that highlight a contradiction between God's attributes and the existence of evil. He argues that if God is omnipotent and wholly good, He would eliminate all evil, leading to a contradiction since evil exists.

Q: What is the 'square circle objection'?

The 'square circle objection' is a term used to describe the logical problem of evil. It suggests that believing in both God and evil is akin to believing in square circles, implying a contradiction in terms and challenging the coherence of such beliefs.

Q: What is the 'unicorn objection'?

The 'unicorn objection' refers to the evidential problem of evil, suggesting that while no direct contradiction exists, the presence of evil makes it difficult to believe in God. It implies that believing in God, despite evil, is as challenging as believing in unicorns.

Q: What premises does Mackie add to amplify the contradiction?

Mackie adds two premises: one stating there are no limits to what an omnipotent, omniscient being can do, and another stating a good being always eliminates or prevents evil as far as it can. These premises aim to highlight a contradiction when combined with God's attributes.

Q: How do theists respond to Mackie's argument?

Theists typically challenge Mackie's additional premises rather than the initial premise of God's existence and attributes. They argue that the perceived contradiction may arise from misunderstandings of God's nature or the nature of evil, rather than disproving God's existence.

Q: What conclusion does Mackie reach with his argument?

Mackie's argument concludes with a contradiction, suggesting both the presence and absence of evil. This contradiction challenges the validity of the premises, particularly questioning the compatibility of God's attributes with the observable existence of evil in the world.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Greg Ganssle discusses the philosophical problem of evil, focusing on the logical problem, which questions the coexistence of God and evil. The argument suggests a contradiction between the belief in an omnipotent, wholly good God and the existence of evil, as proposed by philosopher John Mackie.

• Mackie's argument is based on four premises, suggesting that if God is omnipotent and wholly good, He would eliminate all evil. This leads to a contradiction, as it implies the nonexistence of evil, conflicting with the observable presence of evil in the world.

• Theists challenge Mackie's additional premises rather than the initial premise of God's existence and attributes. They argue that the logical problem of evil doesn't necessarily disprove God's existence, as the perceived contradiction may stem from misunderstandings of God's nature or the nature of evil.