As an example, a critic of Plantinga’s idea of “a mighty nonhuman spirit” causing natural evils may concede that the existence of such a being is not logically impossible but argue that due to lacking scientific evidence for its existence this is very unlikely and thus it is an unconvincing explanation for the presence of natural evils. May I go on to explain why certain elements in your response appear to me to be unjustifiable? The Evidential Problem of Evil differs from the Logical … There exist instances of intense suffering which an omnipotent, omniscient being could have prevented without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse. An omnibenevolent being would want to prevent all evils. Now customize the name of a clipboard to store your clips. Unlike the logical argument from evil, which holds that the existence of God (so defined) is logically incompatible with some known fact about evil, the evidential (or probabilistic) argument from evil contends that some known fact about evil is evidence against the existence of God. These tend to fall, however, into two main groups. Alvin Plantinga's free-will defense is a logical argument developed by the American analytic philosopher Alvin Plantinga and published in its final version in his 1977 book God, Freedom, and Evil. If #1 is true then either #2 or #5 is true, but not both. The problem of evil is often formulated in two forms: the logical problem of evil and the evidential problem of evil. The section entitled "Evidential problem of evil" quotes: "The logical possibility of hidden reasons for the existence of evil still exist. Logical vs evidential problem of evil The problem of evil can be understood in two ways: logical and evidential. The evidential version of the problem of evil (also referred to as the probabilistic or inductive version), seeks to show that the existence of evil, although logically consistent with the existence of God, counts against or lowers the probability of the truth of theism. The evidential version of the problem of evil (also referred to as the probabilistic or inductive version), seeks to show that the existence of evil, although logically consistent with the existence of God, counts against or lowers the probability of the truth of theism. If God lacks any one of these qualities—omniscience, omnipotence, or omnibenevolence—then the logical problem of evil can be resolved. Necessarily, God can actualize an evolutionary perfect world. William Rowe's formulation One of the more influential versions of the argument, first published in 1978. Thus a rape or a murder of an innocent child is defended as having a God’s purpose that a human being may not comprehend, but which may lead to lesser evil or greater good. Independent of whether the logical vs. evidential distinction is significant, I have a problem with it from a ‘naming convention’ perspective. The phrase “problem of evil” can be used to refer to a host of different dilemmas arising over the issue of God and evil. Evil doesn't exist Logical Problem of evil Vs Evidential Problem of Evil •the amount and kind of evil we find at the actual world is relevant to the EPE not the LPE; and •the EPE does not claim to be a disproof of the existence of God but only as a very good reason to accept atheism. Evil exists (logical contradiction). I am sincerely grateful for your taking the time to consider what I wrote to you. The logical problem of evil argues that evil existing and God existing involves a contradiction. There was no problem of evil before the fall, nor will there be one in the eternal state. The logical problem can be contrasted with the evidential problem of evil, which does not claim that just any evil would be inconsistent with God, but that the existence of the kind of terrible suffering which we know to exist gives good evidence for the conclusion that such a God does not exist. The Problem of Evil - Part 2. The problem of evil has also been extended beyond human suffering, to include suffering of animals from cruelty, disease and evil. The sufferings of millions of the lower animals throughout almost endless time’ are apparently irreconcilable with the existence of a Creator of ‘unbounded’ goodness. O bjections to P5: N on-ClassicalTheism Process Theism Open Theism Form ulating the Problem ofEvil Logical vs. Evidential LogicalProblem ofEvil P1. [23] This is also referred to the Darwinian problem of evil,[24][25] after Charles Darwin who expressed it as follows:[26]. Whereas the logical problem of evil argued that the mere existence of evil in the world proves God cannot exist, the evidential problem of evil argues that the amount of evil in the world is so great that it is highly improbable that a good God exists. The debate in the recent literature about the problem of evil has shifted from preoccupation with the logical argument to an increased focus on the evidential argument. Therefore, an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God does not exist. The second version of the problem of evil applied to animals, and avoidable suffering experienced by them, is one caused by some human beings, such as from animal cruelty or when they are shot or slaughtered. Evaluating philosophical claims and theories, No public clipboards found for this slide, The logical and evidential problem of evil(1). Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Evidential problem of evil section. I will first refute the logical version of the problem of evil and demonstrate why God and evil can possibly co-exist. We use your LinkedIn profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. For example, someone who raises the problem of evil may be referring to the religious/emotional problem of evil, the logical problem of evil, the evidential problem of evil, moral evil, or natural evil, just to name a few. Afterwards, I will move on to refute the evidential version of the problem of evil via a three legged stool response; (1) Our cognitive limitations make it impossible to make a … [4] One version of this problem includes animal suffering from natural evil, such as the violence and fear faced by animals from predators, natural disasters, over the history of evolution. Both absolute versions and relative versions of the evidential problems of evil are presented below. The evidential problem states that if there is an omniscient being, how could he allow this kind of suffering and evil? If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. This version of the problem of evil has been used by scholars including John Hick to counter the responses and defenses to the problem of evil such as suffering being a means to perfect the morals and greater good because animals are innocent, helpless, amoral but sentient victims. By contrast, evidential problems of evil aim to show that the existence of the omniGod is unlikely. The evidential problem is just the opposite. In contrast, William Rowe's Evidential Formulation of the Problem of Evil differs from the Logical Problem of Evil because it is an inductive argument with a lesser 'burden of proof' - it does not purport a certain conclusion.Rowe’s evidential argument hinges on a change in the EPISTEMIC STANDARD appropriate to the premises of the argument from evil – from CERTAINTY to RATIONALLY SUPPORTED. The logical problem of evil explains that the existence of evil is not consistent with the existence of a God. They attempt to show that the assumed propositions lead to a logical contradiction and therefore cannot all be correct. A being who knows every way in which an evil can come into existence, who is able to prevent that evil from coming into existence, and who wants to do so, would prevent the existence of that evil. This is a contradiction, so #1 is not true. For example, in Rowe’s essay, he used the example of a suffering fawn. The "evidential problem of … 1. Slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. If there exists an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God, then no evil exists. You can express the problem as a logical argument like this: P1 There is a being who possesses omnipotence and perfect goodness P2 A perfectly good being wishes to remove evil and an omnipotent being possess the power to do whatever it wishes Evidential Problem of Evil This argument attempts to decrease the probability of the existence of the God of classical theism, unlike the logical problem of evil which attempts to refute it. I have been getting more into philosophy and a guy I followed online has really stumped the Christians he has proposed this question to. problem of evil. This is called skeptical theism because the argument aims to encourage self-skepticism, either by trying to rationalize God’s possible hidden motives, or by trying t… Plantinga's argument is a defense against the logical problem of evil as formulated by the philosopher J. L. Mackie beginning in 1955. You can change your ad preferences anytime. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent. Journalist and best-selling author Lee Strobel commissioned George Barna, the public-opinion pollster, to conduct a nationwide survey. The existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God is logically incompatible with the reality of evil. The Evidential Problem of Evil - Duration: 11:44. An omniscient, wholly good being would prevent the occurrence of any intense suffering it could, unless it could not do so without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse. Originally Posted by mclarksn9 So what is the best Christian response to the logical/evidential problem of evil. God uses evil for a greater good. Evidential problem of evil Alternatively, rather than being formulated as a deductive argument for the very strong claim that it is logically impossible for both God and evil to exist, the argument from evil can instead be formulated as an evidential (or inductive/probabilistic) argument for the more modest claim that there are evils that actually exist in the world that make it unlikely—or … The argument usually takes the following form: (1) If God exists, gratuitous evil would not exist (2) Gratuitous evil exists (3) Therefore God… An omniscient being knows every way in which evils can come into existence, and knows every way in which those evils could be prevented. Dystheism is the belief that God is not wholly good. • Philosophy tutor See our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Before delving into the deep and often murky waters of the problem of evil, it will be helpful to provide some philosophical background to this venerable subject. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. If there exists an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God, then no evil exists. See our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for details. The logical problem of evil contends that there is a strong logical incompatibility between God and evil, such that it is logically impossible for God and evil to coexist (or there is no possible world where God and evil coexists). Answered by Jonathan A. If God is all-powerful, all-knowing and perfectly good, why does he let so many bad things h… Most philosophical debate has focused on the propositions stating that God cannot exist with, or would want to prevent, all evils (premises 3 and 6), with defenders of theism (for example, Leibniz) arguing that God could very well exist with and allow evil in order to achieve a greater good. In my tutorial regarding conjunctions and contradictions I mention that you cannot have the conjuction of ‘A and not A’. On theone hand, there are metaphysical interpretations of the term: God isa prime mover, or a first cause, or a necessary being that has itsnecessity of itself, or the ground of being, or a being whos… An omnipotent being has the power to prevent that evil from coming into existence. So what is the best Christian response to the logical/evidential problem of evil. Include suffering of animals from cruelty, disease and evil suffering, to suffering. 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