StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Logic and Evidential Problem of Evil - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "The Logic and Evidential Problem of Evil" will indicate the author's personal belief in God, morals, good and evil, and the main reason that makes him hold this belief. All materials presented in this paper will come from class notes and a secondary source.    …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.8% of users find it useful
The Logic and Evidential Problem of Evil
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Logic and Evidential Problem of Evil"

The Logical and Evidential Problem of Evil Logical and Evidential problem of evil are both the main arguments that tend to question the existence of God. Both of the two arguments are presented in order to show there is no possibility of existence of God considering how evil have affected the world. This paper will offer detailed information relating to logical and evidential problem of evil and make replies on the two arguments. The paper will also indicate my personal belief on God, morals, good and evil and the main reason that makes me to hold this believes. All materials presented in this paper will come from class notes and a secondary source. Logical Problem of Evil Atheist J.L Mackie presented this argument where he argued that there is a contradiction between the existence of God and the existence of evil (Kelly 218). Mackie formulated his argument that there seems to be an evident contradiction between four main premises. One of them is that God is an omnipotent (Kelly 219). This premise translates that God is all-powerful, meaning that he is supposed to have the power of eliminating all evil that exists in this world (Meister 132). The second premise is that God is an omniscient. This second premise translates that God is all-knowing, meaning that he could have the ability to detect the occurrence and existence of evil in order to prevent or eliminate it. The third premise according to Mackie is that God is Omni-benevolent (Meister 132). This argument translates that God is all-good, meaning he would have the will to prevent all the evils from happening in this world (Meister 132). The fourth premise indicates that evil and suffering exists in this world (Meister 132). This premise translates that there is evidence of moral and natural evil existence in this world. Reflecting on all of the above four premises Mackie concluded that God does not exist. The above four premises leads to a contradiction between the existence if evil and God. This derives to a point that God does not exist. For example, it is easy to reject the premise that God is omnipotent. This is because if God is not able to stop evil and most importantly know before it occurs in order to do something to stop it, then probably there is no God. There is also a possibility to reject the second premise; God is omniscient, by stating that if God is really all knowing, he could have the ability to stop evil. The above information indicates that no one is able to know what individuals can do even God himself. Moreover, this means that if God does exist, evil occurs and surprises even him. It is also possible to reject the third premise indicating that God is Omni-benevolent. This is because if God is perfect good, he ought to have the ability of knowing when evil might occur and then have the power to stop it. However, it seems that God does not care about evil and possible he does not have the ability to stop it. Rejecting the first three premises translates into the fourth one, evil and suffering exists, and therefore giving a possible conclusion that there is no God. The Evidential Argument One of the well-known individuals who have firmly supported the evidential argument is William Rowe (Kelly 220). Through the evidential argument, Rowe and many other philosophers argue that much of the evils that people experiences in this world seem to be pointless. Rowe presented his arguments on four main statements. One of the statements indicated “E”, is an evil that no one established its justifier. However, many people especially philosophers have been trying to find the justifier without any success. The second statement according to Rowe shows there is a high probability “E” has no justifier. The third statement indicates that if there are some evil that depict to have no justifier, then all the facts presented on theism about God depicts to be false (Meister 135). The fourth statement as presented by Rowe then concludes there is a high probability that theism is false. According the above statements presented by Rowe, they tend to show that the existence of evil that brings pain and suffering derives to the point that God does not exist. From the above statements, it is possible to arrive to the fact that evil contributes to various instances of suffering of which an omnipotent, omniscient and perfect good God could have played a crucial role in preventing them from happening. According to Rowe, the fact there is pointless evil highly questions the existence of God. This means that if God existed he could have played a significant role in preventing evil from happening. However, because evil do happen on a daily basis then probably there is no God. Part 2 My Personal Belief on God, Morals, Good and Evil I firmly believe that God exists and is in control of everything that happens in this world. One of the main reasons that contribute in my believing of the existence of God is the concept of theology in Christianity. Most of the Christians affirmation on the existences of God as presented in the bible is not empty assumptions or dreamy speculations. For example, the bible gives the story of Lot’s wife on how she turned into a column of salt after looking back. It is true that this column of salt is evident to date and is a tourist attraction site. The Lots’ wife story derives to the point that doing against God’s will is demonstrating bad morals of which is punishable. Therefore, I believe there is a being (God) that is behind the power of good and evil. The other main reason that contributes to my believing in God is the fact that good and evil exists which tends to define good and bad morals. This is because most of the philosophers admit that there is evil. This means that they also admit there is good. The concept of admitting there is goodness derives to my main point and argument that moral law exists. This moral law helps people to differentiate between good and evil. The being behind the power of moral law is God. Works Cited Kelly Joseph. The Problem of Evil in the Western Tradition: From the Book of Job to Modern Genetics. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 2001. Print. Meister Chad. Introducing Philosophy of Religion. London: Routledge, 2009. Print. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“The Logic and Evidental Problem of Evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1398323-philosophy
(The Logic and Evidental Problem of Evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1398323-philosophy.
“The Logic and Evidental Problem of Evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1398323-philosophy.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Logic and Evidential Problem of Evil

Meinongian Issue

This essay "Meinongian Issue " is about several issues that arise in view of the connection that there are actually some things and factors which are actually non-existent.... Philosophers normally seek to examine the questions in determining if an object or certain subject is actually not existent....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Major Answers to Philosophy of Religion Questions

The assignment "Major Answers to Philosophy of Religion Questions" focuses on the critical analysis of the major answers to the questions in the philosophy of religion.... It asks questions about the meanings, truths, consistency, or the explanatory adequacy of the religious beliefs studies.... ... ...
50 Pages (12500 words) Assignment

Knowledge and Wisdom by Bertrand Russell

'Our own actions create the problems we experience', says Peter Senge (Freed 2013, p.... 9).... If Senge's statement is taken as the hypothesis, the proof is available in the following text under the title "Knowledge and Wisdom by Bertrand Russell".... ... ... ... In his essay 'Knowledge and Wisdom', Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, and pacifist, attempts to define wisdom and also to identify the means of promoting it....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Devils Knot Mysterious Case Analysis

The study "Devils Knot Mysterious Case Analysis" focuses on the critical thorough analysis of the mysterious legal case, a so-called Devil's knot.... The trial of Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin was reminiscent of the witch trials that once dominated American life.... ... ... ... The 'key' evidence and testimonies were insufficient, and the case itself too weak to convict the defendants of capital murder and bestow on them the death penalty and capital punishment....
6 Pages (1500 words) Case Study

The Problem of Good and Evil

The author builds toward that conclusion by giving a series of criticisms, arguing in their favor, and then responding to potential defenses for God by theists in attempting to answer the problem of evil.... Atheism is built on Johnson's position that if God is omnibenevolent, omnipotent, and omniscient, then it is impossible to believe in a God when we live in a world in which there is an enormous amount of evil.... "The problem of Good and Evil" paper focuses on B....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

McCloskey on the Existence of God

The author takes into account the presence of imperfection and evil, the concept of the evidential problem.... Just as the logic demands, everyone requires proof for his or her ideas.... This work "McCloskey on the Existence of God" focuses on cosmological and teleological arguments concerning the existence of God....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Evidential Argument from Evil

In that sense, William Rowe uses evidential arguments from evil to reveal that the existence of evil in the present world inductively supports the assertion that God does not exist.... owe contemplates that it is best for us as human beings to examine some specific kinds of evil that are existing in our world, and this made him select 'intense human and animal suffering'.... The paper "The Evidential Argument from evil" pinpoints that a good parent, like a good God, may have substantial reasons for allowing suffering or evil in order to accomplish greater goods....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Humean Problem of Evil

The paper "The Humean problem of evil" focuses on the main peculiarities of the problem of evil in Hume's philosophy.... he problem of evil argument is trying to prove that God does not exist because there is suffering.... The problem with the evil argument says that if God exists he is defined as an all-good and all-powerful being.... Whatever understanding a person takes of Hume's logic in entirety, it is undoubtedly true that one of his most essential philosophical goals is discrediting the dogmas and tenets of customary theistic conviction....
14 Pages (3500 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us