The Big Picture – 2 a The problem of evil

Transcript:The Big Picture – 2 a The problem of evil:
The Big Picture – 2 a The problem of evil and suffering: The types of evil: moral (caused by free will agents) and natural (caused by nature). The logical problem of evil: classical (Epicurus) - the problem of suffering. J. L. Mackie’s modern development - the nature of the problem of evil (inconsistent triad). William Rowe (intense human and animal suffering) and Gregory S. Paul (premature deaths). 1 Evil and suffering Must I can identify examples to illustrate the problem of evil and suffering Should I can explain the differences between natural and moral evil Could I can evaluate the challenge offered to belief in God by natural and moral evil 2. What is evil? Think, pair and share Write as a spider diagram Write up a definition using these ideas What ever is painful, malicious, disastrous Anything that is morally or physically harmful / wrong John Hick defined evil as ‘physical pain, mental suffering and moral wickedness’ The notion of ‘evil’ will therefore include such categories as the bad, the unjust, the immoral, and the painful. An analysis of evil in this broad sense may proceed as follows: An event may be categorized as ‘evil’ if it involves any of the following: some harm – whether it be minor or great – being done to the physical (pain) and/or psychological well-being (suffering) of a sentient (conscious) creature; the unjust treatment of some sentient creature; (prosperity of the wicked, demise of the virtuous) loss of opportunity resulting from premature death; anything that prevents an individual from leading a fulfilling and virtuous life; (e.g. poverty) a person doing that which is morally wrong; (immoral choices and acts) Types of evil… discussion Natural evil Malfunctioning of the structure of the natural world Moral evil The result of deliberate human actions which are morally wrong What is natural evil? What is moral evil? Examples of moral and natural evil – Natural Evil refers to form of evil and suffering which are not the direct result of free acts of human beings. There are several different areas which could be described as natural evil. Peter Vardy gives the following list in his work, The Puzzle of Evil: Animal suffering The suffering caused by natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, volcanoes) Pain resulting from disease Pain resulting from poor design of the human body (childbirth, degeneration) Psychological illness We cannot reasonably claim that natural evil does not