The anti-theistic argument The anti-theistic argument from Evilfrom Evil

The Deductive argument from evilThe Deductive argument from evil

If there is a God, then this God would If there is a God, then this God would prevent Evil prevent Evil

But there is EvilBut there is Evil

Therefore there is no God.Therefore there is no God.

The argument has an a priori assumptionThe argument has an a priori assumption—that it follows from the nature of God —that it follows from the nature of God that God would want to prevent evil and that God would want to prevent evil and that God would be able to prevent evil.that God would be able to prevent evil.

The argument has an empirical premise—The argument has an empirical premise—there is Evilthere is Evil

A problem with the Deductive A problem with the Deductive ArgumentArgument

The Deductive argument claims that Evil is The Deductive argument claims that Evil is incompatible with the existence of God.incompatible with the existence of God.

But this is not necessarily the case. If But this is not necessarily the case. If something very good is necessarily something very good is necessarily connected with something evil, God might connected with something evil, God might have to create the evil, in order to create have to create the evil, in order to create the good.the good.

What would such a great good be?What would such a great good be?

Free willFree will

By saying human beings (at least) have By saying human beings (at least) have free will, we mean that some of the free will, we mean that some of the choices and decisions human beings choices and decisions human beings make are not determined (by natural make are not determined (by natural causality, God, or anything else). They are causality, God, or anything else). They are “up to us,” not up to God or nature.“up to us,” not up to God or nature.Such free will seems to involve the Such free will seems to involve the possibility of evil (since nothing us from possibility of evil (since nothing us from making evil choices)making evil choices)

The Free will defenseThe Free will defense

It is good that God create free creaturesIt is good that God create free creaturesIf God creates free creatures, God must If God creates free creatures, God must also creates the possibility of evilalso creates the possibility of evilThe existence of free creatures is a good The existence of free creatures is a good that outweighs the evil that comes from that outweighs the evil that comes from free choicesfree choicesTherefore God is justified creating a world Therefore God is justified creating a world with evil in it and evil is not incompatible with evil in it and evil is not incompatible with the existence of God.with the existence of God.

The inductive argument from evilThe inductive argument from evil

The failure of the deductive argument The failure of the deductive argument forces us to focus on the question of forces us to focus on the question of gratuitous gratuitous evilevil

Gratuitous evil is evil that is not required Gratuitous evil is evil that is not required for any greater good. It is pointless.for any greater good. It is pointless.

Another argument from evilAnother argument from evil

If God exists, God would not allow for If God exists, God would not allow for gratuitous evilgratuitous evilThere is gratuitous evilThere is gratuitous evilTherefore God does not existTherefore God does not exist

This argument requires that we support This argument requires that we support the claim that some evils are not the claim that some evils are not themselves required for some greater themselves required for some greater good.good.

Kinds of EvilKinds of Evil

Physical evil (suffering)Physical evil (suffering)

Mental evil (depression, grief)Mental evil (depression, grief)

State evil ( hatred, envy, ugliness)State evil ( hatred, envy, ugliness)

Moral evil (actions leading to evil Moral evil (actions leading to evil consequences, actions that are bad in consequences, actions that are bad in themselves if there are any (e.g. lying).themselves if there are any (e.g. lying).

The universe appears to be full of many The universe appears to be full of many evils of these kindsevils of these kinds

Swinburne: these evils are not Swinburne: these evils are not really gratuitousreally gratuitous

The possibility of evil actions is a pre-The possibility of evil actions is a pre-requisite for free willrequisite for free will

Evil actions must have real consequences if Evil actions must have real consequences if people are to have real responsibilitypeople are to have real responsibility

What of natural evil?What of natural evil?

Natural evil is evil that is not the result of Natural evil is evil that is not the result of free choicesfree choices

Natural disasters, disease, the suffering of Natural disasters, disease, the suffering of humans and other animals due to natural humans and other animals due to natural phenomenaphenomena

Swinburne’s responseSwinburne’s response

An imperfect world is better than a perfect An imperfect world is better than a perfect world because it allows for creatures to world because it allows for creatures to improve through their free actions. It gives improve through their free actions. It gives creatures “the privledge of making their creatures “the privledge of making their own universe.”own universe.”

(p.243)(p.243)

Soul makingSoul making

God could create a world with morally perfect God could create a world with morally perfect people, but it is better that we be created people, but it is better that we be created imperfectly. This allows us to grow and develop imperfectly. This allows us to grow and develop our own character through our free choices.our own character through our free choices.

Natural evils provide an enviroment in which Natural evils provide an enviroment in which character development can occurcharacter development can occur

(a world in which everything is fine would not (a world in which everything is fine would not provide much opportunity for courage or provide much opportunity for courage or compassion, for example)compassion, for example)

Gratuitous evil againGratuitous evil again

Do these general arguments show that all Do these general arguments show that all examples of evil are not gratuitous. examples of evil are not gratuitous. Consider these two examplesConsider these two examples

A child is raped and killed by her father A child is raped and killed by her father

A fawn dies a slow painful death as a A fawn dies a slow painful death as a result of being caught in a fireresult of being caught in a fire

Evils such as these are not at all rare—are Evils such as these are not at all rare—are they all necessary for some greater good?they all necessary for some greater good?